With the last event of the PGA Tour wrapped up for 2025, the schedule is now being set for next season. This includes the Signature events. The tournaments with larger purses and limited field sizes of some of the best players on the Tour. There are a few ways to get into a Signature event. However, for 2026, Jordan Spieth will be relying on sponsorship exemptions. Something that is generating a lot of criticism for Spieth and the Tour.
Why Is Jordan Spieth On Sponsorship Exemptions?
When it comes to the Signature Events, the paths into the roster are built to gather the best players on Tour. To start, the top fifty from the previous FedEx Cup are in. Then it goes to the top 10 for the current FedEx rankings. Next are the top 30 in the OWGR, and then, the PGA event winners in the current season. Spieth is just beyond the top 50 for the 2025 FedEx. He stands at No. 72 on the OWGR, and the rest is dependent on how 2026 will go. Due to those factors, Spieth will need to rely on the sponsorship exemptions for at least the first two Signatures of 2026. Something that is maligned by fans and commentators.
Sponsorship Exemption Criticised
Going onto the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard had a lot to say about the sponsorship exemptions. Part of his criticism is that Spieth didn’t play any tournaments in the Fall Series. The fall series helps to fill in positions that would otherwise not be addressed until the next season is well underway.
“These guys play all year long, they play a really gruelling schedule. It’s only going to become more gruelling next year. You deserve the time off, but it is tough when you’re in that category, and you didn’t play once in the fall. You didn’t even give it one shot… I just don’t understand why he made the choice of not even playing if all he needed to do was make one cut and he would have finished in that category, and he wouldn’t even be in this conversation.”
Hoggard went on to say that he is pretty tired of talking about sponsorship exemptions. Only a few players ever take them at a time, yet the conversation comes up every time. He is giving Spieth some leeway as he became a father of three this year.
Spieth On The Exemptions
Jordan Spieth has previously spoken about being on a sponsorship exemption. It had to do with the exemptions he had this year. Spieth doesn’t like asking for such exemptions. He was glad to be able to play in the signatures, but he just didn’t like the path he took to be part of them. Spieth would describe the events as something that he couldn’t just miss.
Spieth Exemptions In 2026
For the first Signature of 2026, Spieth will have an exemption. His sponsor also happens to be AT&T, which hosts the Pebble Beach event. For Spieth to avoid any ire for the sponsorship exemptions for 2027, he’ll need to improve his game or play in the fall series.
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