Philip Francis was once considered one of the top junior golf prospects as the number one ranked U.S. junior player. However, after struggling in his first year at UCLA and on the PGA Tour, the sophomore had a strong showing at the John Deere Classic where he shot rounds of 67 and 64 to be within four shots of the lead. While Francis fell back on the final day, finishing tied for 34th, it was still seen as a step in the right direction and a sign he was regaining his former confidence and form.