Jordan Spieth’s Exemption Into Genesis Invitational Sparks Meritocracy Debate

Despite finishing 80th in the 2024 FedEx Cup standings, Jordan Spieth has received a second sponsor exemption into a 2025 signature event.

On Monday, the Genesis Invitational announced a handful of sponsor exemptions for next week’s signature event at Torrey Pines’s South Course. The event was moved to San Diego due to the devastating wildfires around Los Angeles.

Jordan Spieth, who finished 80th on the 2024 FedEx Cup points list, was among those who have received a sponsor exemption.

ready to hear the roars for @JordanSpieth pic.twitter.com/HgZhsFXEAJ

— The Genesis Invitational (@thegenesisinv) February 3, 2025

The decision brought some backlash, highlighting how PGA Tour fans have criticized LIV Golf for the lack of meritocracy involved when choosing players for the league.

Stop giving out exemptions to players who don’t earn there way in.

— Ezra Greenman (@GreenmanEzra) February 3, 2025

Unserious.

— Joey (@jschmidt139) February 3, 2025

This decision has been enormously unpopular with the fans of meritocracy golf. It was made by the same people who trumpeted legacy & tradition. Fact is, they’re desperate for ratings & will do whatever it takes to get some. How the mighty have fallen. https://t.co/XHJNILKCun

— Luke Elvy (@Luke_Elvy) February 4, 2025

Spieth only had one finish in the top 20 in all of 2024, though he did battle a wrist injury that required surgery. He made his first start of the season last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, also on a sponsor exemption (one of his primary sponsors is AT&T) and finished T69 out of 78 players.

The PGA Tour has seen a decline in ratings through its first four events prior to Pebble Beach, with slow play and poor TV coverage dominating the conversation. The Tour also is still missing a handful of stars with Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm playing LIV Golf. Therefore, having Spieth in the field in a signature event makes plenty of sense in theory.

Spieth, 31, has 13 PGA Tour wins including 3 major championships on his resume. He’s also one of the most polarizing players in the game.

In addition to Spieth, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland also received sponsor exemptions into the event. It’s unclear at this time whether Tiger Woods will tee it up for the first time this season.