Golf fans concerned as PGA Tour pro walks out of John Deere Classic

PGA Tour pro Stephan Jaeger has withdrawn after the first round of the John Deere Classic. 

Jaeger, 36, carded a lacklustre round of 3-over 74 at TPC Deere Run on Thursday. 

After signing his card, Jaeger then decided to inform PGA Tour officials that he was withdrawing from the tournament.

Jaeger has endured a wretched run of form so far this season, especially the last three months with just one top-10 finish in his last seven starts.

The German won his first and only PGA Tour title to date when taking down World No.1 Scottie Scheffler at the Texas Children's Houston Open in March 2024. 

But his game has steadily declined since and he will likely find himself out of the world's top 60 when the rankings update on Monday. 

A number of ardent PGA Tour fans commented how Jaeger "looked completely off" and "definitely wasn't having fun" during the first round of the John Deere Classic. 

Jaeger's round imploded with a triple-bogey seven on his 13th hole of the round at the par-4 4th. 

One PGA Tour fan described how during the featured groups coverage that Jaeger "was playing so fast and not taking his time on the 4th hole."

Jaeger was playing alongside South Korean duo Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im, who carded rounds of 65 and 68 respectively. 

"Hope all is okay?" tweeted one concerned PGA Tour fan.

Another commented: "He seemed like he would rather be elsewhere."

But then one fan, seemingly with inside knowledge as to what's going in Jaeger's life, tweeted his wife is apparently expecting the birth of their second child. 

The fan admitted this was allegedly a reason why the German, who resides in Tennessee, chose not to participate in the BMW International Open in Munich on the DP World Tour this week. 

Whether Jaeger chose to WD from the John Deere Classic after the first round due to his wife going in to labour remains to be seen. 

Jaeger was last week seen losing his cool on the tee box en route to a second missed cut in his last three starts at the Rocket Classic.

Watch Jaeger's tee box tantrum here:

Doug Ghim hit the front in the first round of the John Deere Classic.

Ghim, who is going in search of his first PGA Tour title, fired a flawless 9-under 62.

Max Homa returned to form with the best first round score of his PGA Tour career.

Homa carded a brilliant 8-under 63 to lie second alongside Austin Eckroat after the first 18 holes.

The American cracked up reporters during his post-round press conference.