The PGA Tour rule that will cost Jordan Spieth $20k or a suspension!

Spieth to face punishment after breaking PGA Tour ruling that was enacted two years ago.

Andy Roberts's picture
Mon, 10 Sep 2018

The PGA Tour's 'Strength of Field Regulation' ruling that was enacted at the start of the 2016-17 season should now be known as 'The Jordan Spieth Rule'.


 

Spieth failed to qualify for next week's Tour Championship and as a result, he has now violated a season-minimum for tournament appearances.

The three-time major champion failed to add a new event to his schedule this season, or play in a minimum of 25 events during the course of the season.

The rule was brought in two years ago as a means of getting bigger-name stars to help raise the statuses of some lesser-light tournaments.

For evading such a rule, the American will face a three-tournament suspension or be fined $20,000 - which he'll know doubt take by reaching into his back pocket. 

 

 

There is an exception to this particular PGA Tour requirement in that players with lifetime Tour status (20 or more wins or 15 or more years on Tour) get a pass. However, Spieth does not fit either of those. 

The 11-time PGA Tour winner - who had never missed the Tour Championship since becoming a PGA Tour member - failed to make the top 30 spots for the season-closer at East Lake next week. 

Spieth carded a final-round 73 on Monday as he slumped to a tie for 55th on 3-under par and 17 strokes out of the playoff between Justin Rose and eventual winner Keegan Bradley