SILVIS, Ill. — On a rain-soaked Sunday at TPC Deere Run, Brian Campbell etched his name into the John Deere Classic history books, outlasting Emiliano Grillo in a sudden-death playoff to claim his second PGA Tour title of the 2025 season.

The 32-year-old American journeyman, a former University of Illinois standout, delivered a performance that was equal parts resilience and redemption, capping a week that felt like a full-circle moment a decade in the making.

The final round of the 2025 John Deere Classic was a rollercoaster, with a crowded leaderboard and relentless pressure that tested every contender. Campbell, who started the day one shot off the lead, surged into contention with a blistering start to his back nine, carding three birdies in a four-hole stretch to seize control at 18 under. His pinpoint accuracy and clutch putting, highlighted by a 14-foot birdie on the 13th, seemed to set the stage for a comfortable victory.

Golf, though, as Campbell knows all too well, rarely follows a script. Disaster struck on the par-4 15th when Campbell’s tee shot veered into the trees, resulting in a double bogey that dropped him into a tie with Grillo and David Lipsky.

“It was a horrible feeling in the moment,” Campbell admitted post-round. “I think the humidity made me slip just a little bit, and I knew it was in the hazard from the start. But I told myself, ‘We’re still in this.’”

Undeterred, Campbell regrouped with a clutch birdie on the par-5 17th, unloading a 272-yard 3-wood to 18 feet and two-putting to reclaim a share of the lead at 18 under. Grillo, playing in the group behind, matched Campbell’s score with a gritty finish, holing an 8-foot birdie putt on 17 and narrowly missing a 37-foot birdie attempt on 18 that would have sealed the tournament. Both players finished regulation at 18-under 266, with Campbell’s 4-under 67 and Grillo’s matching score setting up a playoff showdown.

Lipsky nearly made it a three-man playoff, electrifying the crowd with an 8-foot eagle putt on 17 to tie for the lead. But a wayward drive on 18 forced him to lay up, and his 15-foot par putt lipped out, leaving him in a tie for third with Kevin Roy at 17 under.

As the playoff returned to the par-4 18th, Campbell, the shortest hitter on Tour with an average drive of 276.1 yards, showcased his precision under pressure. He split the fairway with a 307-yard drive and roped a 193-yard punch approach to 16 feet, piling the pressure on Grillo. The Argentinian, ranked No. 144 in the world, found trouble off the tee, his drive settling in trampled rough among spectators. Despite a favorable lie, Grillo’s approach sailed long, landing 63 feet from the pin in the rough. His chip came up short of the green, and a 23-foot par attempt never had a chance, opening the door for Campbell’s two-putt par to seal the victory.

“Right now, it’s surreal,” Campbell said, soaking in the moment on the 18th green. “It all started here as an amateur, my first invite here [in 2015]. To be in a playoff and finish it off this way is just amazing.”

The win marked Campbell’s second playoff victory of the season, following his triumph at the Mexico Open in February, where he defeated Aldrich Potgieter in extra holes. His improbable journey, from losing his PGA Tour card in 2017 to battling injuries and self-doubt on the Korn Ferry Tour, added layers of emotion to the victory. A defining moment came three years ago at PGA Tour Q-School, where a quintuple bogey on a par-3 left him questioning his career.

“That night, I had a talk with myself,” Campbell recalled. “I said, ‘Whatever happens is okay. Trust yourself.’ The next round, I shot 8-under and got back in it.”

The John Deere Classic, held just 180 miles from his collegiate home in Champaign, felt like a homecoming for Campbell. Fans chanted “I-L-L” throughout the week, and he responded with “I-N-I,” embracing the support of the Illinois faithful. The victory earned him $1.512 million, 500 FedExCup points, and a jump from No. 59 to No. 28 in the season-long standings, securing spots in the 2026 Masters, PGA Championship, and The Players Championship. It also boosted his world ranking to No. 55, potentially earning a spot in the upcoming Open Championship.

For Grillo, the runner-up finish was bittersweet. “I gave my 100 percent,” he said. “I hit every fairway today, except for that first in the playoff. Unlucky, but it is what it is.” His strong week, including four top-25s in his last five starts, moved him inside the top 70 in the FedExCup standings.

Max Homa, seeking his first win in over two years, briefly led after three straight birdies early in the final round but faded to a tie for fifth at 16 under, joined by Lucas Glover, Matt Kuchar, and others. The leaderboard’s depth (17 players within two shots of the lead at one point) underscored the drama of the day.

Campbell’s victory, punctuated by his “quiet tenacity” and a return to the joy of the game, cemented his status as one of the PGA Tour’s unlikeliest multi-time winners of 2025. As he hoisted the trophy, the former Fighting Illini star joined an elite group of champions with two or more wins this season, including Scottie Scheffler (3), Rory McIlroy (3), and Sepp Straka (2). For Campbell, the win was more than a trophy, it was proof that perseverance pays off.

“Trusting myself and having fun with it,” Campbell said, “that’s what got me here.”

The PGA Tour now heads to the British Isles for two weeks — the Genesis Scottish Open followed by the Open Championship, but for one unforgettable weekend in America’s heartland, Brian Campbell and the John Deere Classic delivered a story of triumph that will resonate in the golf world.