Jordan Spieth receives another exemption into signature event

Jordan Spieth may draw the ire of fellow PGA Tour members after accepting another sponsor exemption into a signature event.

The three-time major champion has struggled to find form and fitness in recent years and is without a win since the 2022 RBC Heritage.

His low ranking in the FedEx Cup has meant Spieth has turned to sponsor exemptions to get into the bumper-prize-purse events with limited fields.

In 2025 alone, Spieth accepted multiple sponsor exemptions to enter the $20m tournaments. 

Last season, he received exemptions into the Genesis Invitational, RBC Heritage, the Memorial, and the Truist Championship. 

He also played in Tiger Woods' Hero World Challenge via a personal invite.

It sparked a backlash from some "rank-and-file" members, who accused Spieth of taking spots in the field from players that were more deserving.

Long-time PGA Tour pro Robert Garrigus was among those to deliver a rough assessment of Spieth's constant use of sponsor invites.

"What's happening to the Tour?" he asked in an interview with Golfweek.

He added: "Tell Spieth I'll play him for any amount he wants. I win, I get his five invites to the signature events."

Over the weekend, it was confirmed that Spieth has been granted another exemption into the forthcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. 

Spieth asked for one last season, but was rejected. 

Billy Horschel and Chris Kirk have also accepted invites into the field at Bay Hill.

The API will be played over 5-8 March. 

Jordan Spieth has defended himself

Spieth previously addressed the issue during an interview with the official PGA Tour website.

He said the criticism "stinks" but launched an impassioned defense.

"I was catching strays for no reason from guys who I had pretty good relationships with," he said.

"I'm not, like, paying (tournaments) to get in. There's a reason that they’re going to pick me to go in.

"If it's going to be helpful to their tournament, then they're going to want me there, until they don't want me there.

"I'm doing anything anyone else is doing. I don't want to have to do it."

Spieth is not alone in facing criticism on this topic. 

Webb Simpson and Rickie Fowler have also accepted sponsor exemptions into signature events in recent seasons.

To date, Fowler has accepted six sponsor invites, but he did finish the 2025 season inside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings to secure starts in signature events this season.