Brian Campbell might not yet be a household name in the world of professional golf, but that narrative is changing — and quickly. So is the size of his bank account, thanks to two victories this season on the PGA TOUR, including one yesterday in the John Deere Classic in a playoff over Emiliano Grillo. Campbell pocketed $1,512,000, and the 1st loser, Grillo, took home $915,600 for his pain and suffering after losing in the playoff.
With his clutch playoff victory, Campbell not only collected his second PGA TOUR title of the season, but he also officially entered the conversation as one of the Tour’s most improved and consistent performers this year.
Let’s break down what this win means for his trajectory — and how he stacks up against his peers.
A Second Statement Win
Campbell’s latest victory came in dramatic fashion, edging out Emiliano Grillo in a playoff after both players finished at 18-under at TPC Deere Run. It wasn’t a fluke either — Campbell posted a 4-under 67 on Sunday, showing poise under pressure.
It’s worth remembering that Campbell also won earlier this season in a playoff at the Mexico Open. That makes two wins this season — a feat only a handful of players have accomplished in 2025.
What It Means for His Ranking
Before his win at the John Deere, Campbell was hovering outside the top 70 in the FedExCup standings. Now? He’s sitting in 28th position, nearly locking up a spot in the BMW Championship, the second leg of the FedExCup Playoffs — something he’s never reached in his career. Wow, his career has taken off this campaign.
Even more impressively, his Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has taken a major leap. After starting the year ranked outside the top 300, he now sits 55th, a meteoric rise that puts him in contention to qualify for all of golf’s majors in 2026.
Compared to His Peers
Campbell’s 2025 season now places him in rare company:
- Only six players have multiple wins on Tour this season. That group includes Scottie, Rory, Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka, Ryan Fox, and now, Brian Campbell.
- He’s doing it without any major media hype. This is the first season in which he’s had full PGA Tour status since his standout college career at Illinois.
- Among players ranked outside the top 300 at the start of the season, no one has improved their OWGR and FedEx Cup positions more than Campbell. Not even close.
The Bigger Picture
Campbell’s ascent is emblematic of the depth on today’s PGA TOUR. The line between journeyman and elite has never been thinner, and players like Campbell prove that self-belief and timely putting can lead to career-altering results.
His story also resonates with fans: a midwestern guy, former Big Ten Player of the Year, grinding for years on the Korn Ferry Tour, and now seizing the moment on golf’s biggest stage.
Is Brian Campbell a lock for the Tour Championship or a dark horse to win a major? That remains to be seen. But with two trophies in 2025 and a newfound swagger to match, he’s gone from longshot to legitimate — and he’s not done yet.
Winners & Losers from yesterday at TPC Deere Run:
- Winner: Campbell. This season, heck, all seasons in which he has teed it up on tour, Campbell has either been a winner or loser. Yesterday, he earned his victory with a final round 4-under 67.
- Winners: Carson Young, Lucas Glover, and Jacob Bridgeman. All three gents fired 65s yesterday and jumped 16 spots on the leaderboard to finish T-5.
- Loser: Homa. One of only a few “stars” playing the event, Homa had a two-shot lead at one point on Sunday but faltered coming home. He still finished T-5, but victory could have spurred his ascent back into the top 50 in the world, where he has spent most of the 2020s, but he is currently mired in a slump.
- Winners: Beau Hossler and Michael Thorbjornsen. These two guys shot Sunday-best 63s and leapt up the leaderboard, finishing T-11 and T-21, respectively. Thor (easier to spell) has been playing good golf as late, and we would not be surprised to see him break through with a victory before year-end.
- Loser: Seamus Power. The Irishman posted a 75 yesterday and fell 38 spots on the leaderboard. Ouch.
2025 John Deere Classic Prize Money Payouts
| Pos. | Player | Total | Earnings |
| 1 | Brian Campbell | -18 | $1,512,000 |
| 2 | Emiliano Grillo | -18 | $915,600 |
| T3 | David Lipsky | -17 | $635,600 |
| T3 | Kevin Roy | -17 | $635,600 |
| T5 | Carson Young | -16 | $278,250 |
| T5 | Lucas Glover | -16 | $278,250 |
| T5 | Jacob Bridgeman | -16 | $278,250 |
| T5 | Matt Kuchar | -16 | $278,250 |
| T5 | Kurt Kitayama | -16 | $278,250 |
| T5 | Max Homa | -16 | $278,250 |
| T11 | Beau Hossler | -15 | $168,900 |
| T11 | Nick Dunlap | -15 | $168,900 |
| T11 | Si Woo Kim | -15 | $168,900 |
| T11 | Denny McCarthy | -15 | $168,900 |
| T11 | Rico Hoey | -15 | $168,900 |
| T11 | Jackson Koivun (a) | -15 | $0 |
| T11 | Austin Eckroat | -15 | $168,900 |
| T18 | Davis Thompson | -14 | $119,700 |
| T18 | Rickie Fowler | -14 | $119,700 |
| T18 | Patrick Fishburn | -14 | $119,700 |
| T21 | Michael Thorbjornsen | -13 | $84,700 |
| T21 | Jake Knapp | -13 | $84,700 |
| T21 | Kevin Yu | -13 | $84,700 |
| T21 | Sam Stevens | -13 | $84,700 |
| T21 | Lee Hodges | -13 | $84,700 |
| T21 | Chris Gotterup | -13 | $84,700 |
| T27 | Garrick Higgo | -12 | $61,320 |
| T27 | Kris Ventura | -12 | $61,320 |
| T27 | Nate Lashley | -12 | $61,320 |
| T27 | Cameron Champ | -12 | $61,320 |
| T31 | Doug Ghim | -11 | $53,760 |
| T31 | Taylor Montgomery | -11 | $53,760 |
| T33 | Brandt Snedeker | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Bud Cauley | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Taylor Moore | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Mark Hubbard | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Jeremy Paul | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Vince Whaley | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Zac Blair | -10 | $42,945 |
| T33 | Camilo Villegas | -10 | $42,945 |
| T41 | Rikuya Hoshino | -9 | $33,180 |
| T41 | Brendan Valdes | -9 | $33,180 |
| T41 | Philip Knowles | -9 | $33,180 |
| T44 | Zach Johnson | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Keith Mitchell | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Jesper Svensson | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Hayden Springer | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Adam Svensson | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Thriston Lawrence | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Bronson Burgoon | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Ben Kohles | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Justin Lower | -8 | $22,848 |
| T44 | Seamus Power | -8 | $22,848 |
| T54 | Patton Kizzire | -7 | $19,740 |
| T54 | Cristobal Del Solar | -7 | $19,740 |
| T54 | Dylan Wu | -7 | $19,740 |
| T57 | Henrik Norlander | -5 | $19,236 |
| T57 | Quade Cummins | -5 | $19,236 |
| T57 | Joel Dahmen | -5 | $19,236 |
| T60 | Ryo Hisatsune | -4 | $18,816 |
| T60 | Eric Cole | -4 | $18,816 |
| 62 | Gordon Sargent | -2 | $18,564 |
| 63 | James Hahn | -1 | $18,396 |
| 64 | Chris Kirk | 2 | $18,228 |
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