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 SILVIS, Ill. - The John Deere Classic today announced its first 2009 sponsor exemption will go to veteran tour pro J.P. Hayes, who lost his chance to earn a full-time spot on next year's PGA Tour when he disqualified himself for a minor rules violation during the circuit's qualifying tournament.
John Deere Classic tournament director Clair Peterson said Hayes' integrity is a hallmark of the only sport in which the players police themselves.
"The John Deere Classic is honored that J.P. Hayes has accepted our first sponsor exemption of 2009," Peterson said. "J.P.'s honesty in calling a penalty on himself during the PGA Tour's Qualifying School tournament is truly impressive, because by respecting the rules of golf he sacrificed any chance he had to earn full-time playing status on tour next year. We certainly feel he deserves to have the opportunity to play here."
Hayes, 43, called a penalty on himself for mistakenly using a non-conforming golf ball to hit two shots during the second stage of the Tour Qualifying School tournament in Texas on Nov. 12. The self-reported penalty resulted in Hayes' disqualification from the tournament, thereby making it impossible for him to earn his Tour card for next season.
Hayes won the John Deere Classic in 2002, finished second in 2006, and tied for ninth last year. A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, Hayes and his family now resides in El Paso.
Hayes collected $312,152 in official tour earnings in 2008, leaving him at 176th on the money list. Only the top 125 on the list automatically earn full playing privileges for the following season. Others have to earn that status via Qualifying School.
While it is not uncommon for tour pros to call penalties on themselves, no one would have known had Hayes not reported the violation, which occurred on the par 3 12th hole during his first round at Deerwood Country Club in Kingwood, Texas.
Just before Hayes teed off on No. 12, his caddie reached into his golf bag and tossed him a ball. Hayes hit his tee shot then chipped onto the green. When he went to mark his ball, Hayes realized it was not the same type of ball with which he had started the round. He summoned a Tour rules official, who informed him the violation carried a two-stroke penalty. Hayes changed back to his original ball and finished his round with a 71.
On Thursday, he shot 74, putting him in good shape to finish among the top 20 and earn his way to the final stage of the qualifying school.
But later Thursday evening Hayes realized that the ball he used Wednesday to tee off and chip onto the 12th green was a prototype Titleist, which is not on the Tour's list of approved golf balls. He reported his mistake to a PGA Tour official and subsequently was disqualified.
The 2009 John Deere Classic is set for July 6-12 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
PGA Tour veteran Kenny Perry won the 2008 John Deere Classic. It was the 12th PGA Tour victory for the 47-year-old Kentuckian, who later in the year went on to star at the Ryder Cup.
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