Tiger Woods has chosen not to participate in the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his lifetime exemption, joining Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth in absence. The limited-field format has led to difficult player selections, with performance as a priority. New invites include Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Mackenzie Hughes, and Rafa Campos.
Tiger Woods has decided not to participate in the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational (API) at Bay Hill, despite holding a lifetime exemption for all PGA Tour Signature Events. This decision comes as several notable players, including Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth, will also be absent from the tournament in Orlando. Although Woods has not competed much in recent years, he was granted a lifetime exemption due to his remarkable record of 82 Tour victories.
Woods was expected to return at the Genesis Invitation in February as the tournament host but withdrew after the passing of his mother. He has been managing a limited schedule on the Tour due to various injury concerns. His absence at Torrey Pines created hopes of his participation at the API, set for March 6, but he opted not to utilize his exemption.
Fowler and Spieth have also missed out on invitations to the Signature Events, attributed to their struggles with form over the past year. Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, commented on these decisions, emphasizing the importance of selecting players based on performance to support and grow the game of golf. He clarified that limited fields drastically reduce the options for player invitations, which complicates the selection process.
The tournament will extend invitations to players such as Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Mackenzie Hughes, and Rafa Campos. It is a difficult process to choose participants for limited-field events, and adjustments must be made to align with the available roster, focusing on fairness and balance in these selections.
In summary, Tiger Woods will not compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, joining notable absentees Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. The limited-field format of the Signature Events has led to difficult decisions regarding invitations, with priority given to players performing well. The event will still feature prominent golfers who were invited, maintaining the competitive spirit of the tournament.
Original Source: www.mirror.co.uk
