Fowler And Spieth Miss Out On Arnold Palmer Invitational Exemptions

We know Rafael Campos has received a sponsor's exemption into the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and while three others are still unknown, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will not be among them.

Spieth and Fowler are two of the biggest names and two of the biggest draws on the PGA Tour, but they both finished outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings last year so are not exempt for the big Signature Events this season.

Fowler and Spieth both got sponsor's exemptions into two Signature Events this season - the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational - but they won't be handed one for Bay Hill.

Palmer's grandson Sam Saunders in on the committee that decides who gets the four invites that Signature Events are allowed to hand out, and he told Golfweek that Spieth and Fowler did not make the list.

He said “it genuinely kills us” not to have the likes of Fowler and Spieth involved, but blamed the smaller limited field now it's a Signature Event for making the decision so tough this year.

"You can't make everybody happy with exemptions," Saunders told Golfweek. "So you try to just do it as fair and balanced as possible.

“It genuinely kills us,” Saunders added about turning down requests from the likes of Fowler. “But you know what kills us more? Only having 70 players to pick from. So, if you want to write something, it should be on the fact that there's only 70 players.

"None of the exemptions are chosen lightly. None of them are for personal or self-interest. It's not about TV ratings or dollars. It's about what's good for the game of golf.

"And I mean, quite honestly, I'd go on the record of saying, these elevated events with limited field, if you really want to do what's fair, there shouldn't be any exemption.

"But, when there's only 70 guys, it's just too tough to do."

Sponsor's exemptions have become a touchy subject on the PGA Tour, especially ones for lucrative Signature Events, which are harder to qualify for so whether they should even have exemptions has become a big question.

Fowler confirms exemption snub - Campos gets in

Fowler, who had a close relationship with Palmer and has acted as an unofficial tournament ambassador, confirmed he had not been given an exemption.

"They're sponsor exemptions and they get to give them out where they feel," said Fowler. "Obviously, I'm bummed but I can't complain about some more time at home."

Campos broke the news himself that he had received one of the four invites, with Saunders saying a letter he wrote to the committee requesting inclusion helped his case.

“I will tell you from what I've seen, I don't know that anybody's written a more thoughtful letter and put more effort into requesting an exemption than Rafa Campos did,” Saunders said.

“He's genuine, he's kind. He's a steward of the game and that's something that mattered a lot to my grandfather.

“One of my granddad's final quotes was he considered himself to be a steward of the game and a caretaker of the game and I think Rafa Campos falls beautifully into that category.

"And you know, it's also providing an opportunity that maybe he wouldn't get otherwise, and certainly a well deserving player, and someone who embodies the spirit of Arnold Palmer quite well.”

Spieth and Fowler could still make it to Bay Hill if they either win the Cognizant Classic or play well enough to finish in the top five of the Aon Next 5 standings.