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By John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor

Wait a minute, what are all these old guys doing on the leaderboard at the John Deere Classic? There must be something in the phases of the moon. Or this could be what is being known as the Funk Effect. But this tournament is the staple for first-time winners on the PGA TOUR. Half of the tournaments played in the Quad Cities have gone to first-time winners. In the media guide, all 18 of the first-time winners are pictured at the age of their wins.

Could Paul Stankowski snap the trend of first-time winners in Silvis? (WireImage)

Roger Maltbie, the winner in 1975, had a full head of flowing locks cascading down onto the hard collars that were a feature of the golf shirts at the time. D.A. Weibring, the native-son winner in 1979 looked like he could suit up and play half back for the Hawkeyes in his picture.

The next year, Scott Hoch was the champion looking more like Eddie Haskell than the grizzled old veteran walking the fairways of the Champions Tour today. In 1982, Payne Stewart was sporting a part down the middle with the flowing wings that were all the rage at the time. In 1985 Dan Forsman earned his first victory hiding behind a Magnum P.I. mustache that was in vogue at the time. Skip ahead to 1997, when David Toms earned his first PGA TOUR victory. David looked like he should have been carded to get into an R-rated movie.

But since 1999, when J.L. Lewis won his first at the John Deere Classic what had been a trend became a phenomenon. The following year the tournament moved to its new home at the TPC Deere Run. Since then five of the seven winners have made their maiden voyages to the winner's circle. Perhaps more interesting than that, none have made it back to golf's ultimate glory.

Defending champion John Senden and 2005 champ Sean O'Hair are very likely candidates to add more victories to their resumes. Both have beaten on the door since their first win but are still polishing just the single trophy. O'Hair can shine the Rookie of the Year trophy that his win here fostered that same year.

But someone forgot to tell the old guys this week that this tournament belongs to the newbies. Neal Lancaster, the 19-year TOUR veteran, led the way in the morning with his lowest round in nearly two years. Neal is playing out of the past champions category on the PGA TOUR. This is just his fourth start of the year on the PGA TOUR. His 64 in the opening round puts Neal in position to solidify his exempt status on the PGA TOUR.

Paul Stankowski and Kenny Perry, two other veterans and champions, both opened with 65 at the John Deere Classic Thursday. Perry has played the best golf of his career after his 40th birthday. Stanko has been plagued by injuries over the past several years. The two-time PGA TOUR winner is physically well now and looking to get back to the form he showed in the late '90's.

While these guys try to buck the trend of first time winners there are some sentimental favorites lurking, looking for their first win on the PGA TOUR. Bob May opened with a 66, his low round of the year. Bob, who pushed Tiger to a playoff at the PGA Championship in 2000, graduated from Qualifying School again last fall. Injuries have sidelined the 38-year-old May for much of his PGA TOUR career. A May victory in the summer heat of July would be very popular in the locker rooms of the PGA TOUR.

This tournament has been more about the birth of history than making history the past three decades. Major champions and one-hit wonders have all left their marks on the Quad Cities. We could see the emergence of a great champion. Or we could see a player like Lancaster, Perry or Duffy Waldorf find their way back into the limelight.