Webb Simpson enters this week’s Wells Fargo Championship as the No. 227 player on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
Nevertheless, Simpson, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Committee, had received an exemption from another sponsor to play in another signature event.
Simpson has already received invitations to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Arnold Palmer Invitational and RBC Heritage, making this his fourth invitation to the sponsor’s signature event this season. His best finish was a tie for 30th at Bay Hill.
He will now compete at Quail Hollow along with 68 other PGA Tour players, some of the best.
But many golfers and fans alike criticize tour and tournament organizers for continuing to pay high-paying policy committee members to participate in these elite events.
“We know these sponsor exemptions are probably the most coveted sponsor exemptions in Tour history, but we’re not going to make everyone happy,” Simpson said Wednesday at Quail Hollow.
“We are looking at what the criteria should be for these sponsor exemptions. Yada yada. We’re trying to strike a balance between giving people the opportunity to do what they want them to do and what they think will add value to their tournament.
“These tournament directors work 24 hours a day all year long to make their tournaments the best they can be. We want to provide an opportunity for people to say, “Well, there are four.” ”
Upon investigation, Simpson has personal relationships with the people promoting this event. He lives in the Charlotte area, is from Raleigh, attended school in North Carolina and played at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem.
“I know the tournament directors, but they’ve been teaching themselves since my rookie year in 2009,” Simpson added.
“I have a lot of love for these tournaments and the sponsors, and I think it’s more than just who’s participating right now. How long have they been here? [Have] Did they win a major championship? Have they been in the game for a long time? [Tournament Director] Gary Sobba is a friend of mine and was able to select the players he thought would be the best fit for the Wells Fargo tournament. ”
Simpson, 39, of course, won the 2012 U.S. Open at San Francisco’s Olympic Club.
He has also competed in the Wells Fargo Championship 13 times, his best result coming in 2015, when he finished tied for second, seven strokes behind winner Rory McIlroy.
That being said, he is aware that there will be criticism for his participation in these top-level events.
“I know this is my fourth sponsorship exemption, and Adam Scott received his fair share,” Simpson said.
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“There was controversy and some people tried to relate it to us being on the board, but that has nothing to do with me being on the board.”
The PGA Tour Policy Committee has been a topic of pertinent discussion lately, but Simpson insists his position on it has nothing to do with this sponsor exemption.
“I’m sure there will be criticism, and I knew there would be criticism depending on it, but it was very comforting to know that we gave the sponsors and the tournament director an opportunity to make a choice,” Simpson explained.
“I want to move on from now on.” [that] And find out what a great tournament the Wells Fargo Championship is. I’m excited to be here. This is my home and I can do some cool things this week. Last week, I ended up taking advantage of this exemption to go to the Trojan Levine Center and play bingo with the kids in the hospital.
“I got to spend today with some kids at the First Tee practice range in Charlotte. I’m more interested in it than worrying about what certain people think about who should get a sponsor exemption. It can be interesting and exciting.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
