Arnold Palmer Invitational leader sounds off on PGA Tour Signature Event distaste

Despite opening with a 5-under 67 at Bay Hill, first-round co-leader Justin Lower is not a fan of the signature event.

Ironically, he entered the field through Aon Swing 5. This newly established metric aggregates the top FedEx Cup earners from the full-field events leading up to each signature event.

So Lauer’s third-place finish at the Mexican Open qualified him to play at Bay Hill this week.

“I don’t think that’s the case for the majority of the PGA Tour.” [Signature Events are] Honestly, it’s more fun given the point structure and all of these events,” Lower said.

“I know a lot of people are unhappy with it. I admit that I am.”

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is the fourth signature event of the 2024 season. These famous events are designed to attract the top players in the game and give away the biggest prizes. Typically, only his 70 players participate in the signature event. Most of them are missing the 36-hole cut, but that’s not the case this week despite a field of 69. Only players tied for the top 50 will qualify for Bay Hill.

Still, barring cuts, TV executives are elated because their star players are guaranteed to appear on the weekend.

“In a PGA Tour setting, you have to play very well, and that’s the product. In events like this, you want the best players in the world playing at the same time,” added Lower.

“Whether you come in from the Sponsor Exemption, the Swing 5 or the Next 10, it’s clear you’re playing pretty well. The Sponsor Exemption should apply to PGA Tour members, which is great. Hopefully they’re playing well at the moment and can take advantage of that, especially in the Next 10 and Swing 5.”

Along with Aon Swing 5, Aon Next 10 is another marker the PGA Tour has established for the 2024 season.

The Aon Next 10 consists of the top 10 players who have not yet been eliminated from the current FedExCup standings.

Signature events also include the top 50 players in the previous year’s FedEx Cup standings, so anyone who qualifies for the 2023 BMW Championship will be invited to all 2024 Signature events.

“We would be fine with 120 people like the invitation. But we understand the need and need to have all the top players together,” Lower reasoned.

“I feel like I’m slowly going down the rabbit hole right now. I could talk about this for a while, but it’s an ongoing subject, so it’s what it is and I’m here and… Just be in the moment.” That’s what I’m trying to take advantage of. ”

Lower made the most of his opportunity, birdied three of the final four holes and rocketed up the leaderboard, sharing the lead with Hideki Matsuyama.

Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images

“I’m glad I made some good putts. I was able to hit some shots pretty close, which is always nice. It was a little tricky around here, but the greens were a little more accepting than I expected.” Lower said of the round.

“Overall, it was a fulfilling day.”

If it weren’t for Lower’s strong play at the Mexico Open, he would have been in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, preparing to play The Players. But luckily, even though he missed out on a spot at PGA National, things worked out for him at the Cognizant Classic.

He had enough points in Mexico to be able to compete against some of the top players this week.

But maybe Lower will continue his strong play and end up wearing a red cardigan sweater on Sunday night.

That would be quite a story.

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.