Daly and Sponsor's Exemptions

[The Turlock Kid]

I heard today on ESPN that JD got a sponsor's exemption from FBR at Scottsdale in '07 (see link below). If he didn't qualify for it, should he play in it? I don't know if he did qualify, but what do you all think? Should sponsors be exempting for these cases? Should sponsors have exemptions?

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2688595

They make a good point about JD being a crowd favorite and drawing people and money to the event. So should he be let in on the "entertainment" side? To me, it's like making him a charity case or a freak show...

Thoughts?

[jamesduncan]

Sponsors exemptions are a fact of life and happen at every PGA/Nationwide event.

Sponsors can invite any tour calibre player (past/present/future) they want.

[Xt1ncT]

JD is a crowd favorite (rightly or wrongly), and the sponsors want people to come to their tournaments so they invite people like JD as is their right.

[The Turlock Kid]

I know it's their right. I am only wondering if people think they should be given that right? I know they're putting up the money, and I know they stick in their own guys (from the company) as incentives, etc., so we don't need to go over that anymore. I'm wondering more about what the players feel like.

If you were a player, wouldn't you feel like the tourney was a consolation prize? I mean, I'm sure Daly doesn't feel like a champ if he has to get in on sponsors exemptions. Neither does Michelle Wie. Neither do most of those guys that are brought in on exemptions.

I know sports is all about entertaining, but for that matter, why don't they invite Victoria's Secret models (I'd watch, no matter how bad they sucked) or famous celebrities? Bill Murray is great and draws a crowd, so why not bring him? I mean, they exempt non-pro's all the time and they don't make the cut. Wouldn't inviting other "crowd pleasers" (at a non-pro-am event) increase crowd attendance?

[BASHERBAKER69]

Hi Turlock Kid

thats life i think, rightly or wrongly.

hopefully JD will use his exemptions wisely this season, instead of taking tournaments for granted like he has done, or else it will be back to Q School for the wild thing-Notah Begay had to do it for the European Tour-DD will have to do it for the 2009 season if he doesn't progress-he can use his top 25 and top50 all time PGA tour career earnings exemptions-JD has only won about $9mn dollars in his 17 years on the tour so he doesn't get this exemption.

That all said though, JD will not be running short of money because of his other lines of business-he has a restaurant, his own on line golf wholsale, personalised wine, endorsements, his own Trademarks which he licenses to different manufacturers, his own music label, and believe it or not he sells JD branded clothes at all the tournaments he goes to out of the back of his truck. He's also pretty good at skins too!

BB69

[flap]

hey the sponser pays the bills and he invites who he wants.Damn be happy it aint no 2nd cousin of the CEO hack!!!

[EatDrinkSleepGolf]

After Tiger, John Daly is probably the next biggest golf attraction, so it makes total $ sense to invite him. He'll receive invitations until his 50 years old.

[golfchief]

Don't ever forget it's all about the Money for the sponsors and hosting club. Fan favorites at your club will bring more revenue.