How PGA Tour Sponsor Exemptions Work
Who's in, who's out?
As you might imagine, corporate sponsors and other entities that put up boat loads of cash to sponsor/host PGA Tour events want some semblance of control over who is in their fields. Every tournament has a contract with the PGA Tour that specifies the number (and types) of sponsor exemptions that will be allowed for that particular tournament.
The current PGA Tour Priority Ranking List includes Sponsor Exemptions as category #12, which believe it or not comes before a lot of other more recognizable categories like the Top 125 in the previous season's FedEx Cup (category #20) points list. These exemptions allow the tournament sponsor to create a field that appeals to its local or brand related fan base and that may attract more interest and TV viewership to the tournament.
Absent a contract that specifies something different, in a standard PGA Tour / Sponsor Exemption arrangement, 8 sponsor exemptions are allowed. These exemptions, however, cannot just be extended to anyone.
The Priority Ranking category description specifies that Sponsor Exemptions must include:
A. Not less than two PGA Tour members, not otherwise exempt.
B. Not less than two players from the previous season's FedEx Cup points list or Korn Ferry Tour points list.
Any remaining exemptions are usually "Unrestricted" and can be extended to any player subject to some of the qualifications below.
- PGA Tour members can receive an unlimited number of Sponsor Exemptions.
- Non tour members can receive a maximum of seven Sponsor Exemptions per year.
- Amateurs must have an official USGA handicap index of 0 or below to be extended a Sponsor Exemption. Yes, even Tony Romo had a handicap index of +0.4 when he was given exemptions into PGA tour events.
As mentioned previously, Sponsor Exemptions are category #12 on the PGA Tour Priority Ranking List. Players that are eligible for the A/B categories above typically have some tour status and are exempt through other categories that are further down the priority list. For example, the Korn Ferry Tour points list finalists are in category #26. Sponsor Exemptions guarantee that they will leap frog others and be in the field, whereas their current status may not be high enough to get them in on priority alone.
Just because the name is "Sponsor Exemption" does not necessarily mean that a group of folks from the sponsoring corporation are sitting around deciding who to invite. That responsibility generally falls on the tournament director, who will make those decisions he believes to be in the best interest of the tournament and sponsor.