Tiger Woods makes unsurprising Jordan Spieth announcement ahead of PGA Tour event

Tiger Woods has handed Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose and Gary Woodland 'special exemptions' into next week's Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. 

Woods' annual Genesis Invitational has been switched from its customary slot at Riviera Country Club over to famed Torrey Pines from 13-16 February.

That is because of the recent wildfires that took place nearby to the Californian course. 

Woods, 49, will not be taking part in the PGA Tour event that benefits his charity Tiger Woods Foundation. 

But he will be making an appearance and presenting the trophy to the winner on the Sunday. 

Woods is also expected to call some of the action in the commentary box over the weekend. 

Jordan Spieth handed 'special exemption' to compete in Tiger Woods' Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour

The Genesis Invitational today confirmed Spieth along with Fowler, Rose and Woodland have all been handed a 'special exemption' by Woods and the PGA Tour into the 2025 Genesis Invitational, which marks the third Signature Event on the PGA Tour schedule this season.

A total of 72 players will make up the field. 

The field will consist of the top 50 players from the 2024 PGA Tour season's FedEx Cup points list, along with 10 players from the Aon Next 10 (from the final FedEx Cup Fall standings) and five players from the Aon Swing 5 (top FedEx Cup points earners from Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express, Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open). 

The Genesis Invitational will once again feature a huge $20m total prize purse with the winner walking away with $3.6m. 

Spieth, 31, has been badly out of form for a couple of seasons now, but especially the past 12 months.

You have to go back to April 2024 to find Spieth's latest top-10 finish (T10) at his home Valero Texas Open. 

Much of that has been down to a wrist injury. 

Spieth first injured his wrist in 2017 and decided not to have surgery to fully address the issue over fears that if it went wrong it could have ended his career.

But things got worse in May 2023 when the three-time major champion 'felt something pop' whilst he was fooling about with his son Sammy.

Spieth tore the tendon sheath and, throughout the 2024 campaign, repeatedly felt it slipping out of place during competition.

The former World No.1 told Jim Nantz in a Q&A - first reported by Golfweek - that he finally realised he needed to have surgery after last July's Open at Royal Troon.

His tendon popped out before he hit his final tee shot and he knew it was time to get it fixed.

"I got it back in before I hit my tee shot, and that's when I thought maybe that's the last straw," he told Nantz.

"[I thought] maybe we should probably do something about this. I don't really feel like playing like this anymore."

Spieth was previously not eligible to take part in Woods' Genesis Invitational, which takes place at famed Torrey Pines next week.

But the 15-time major champion and the PGA Tour have handed Spieth a lifeline with a special exemption into the tournament. 

Woodand, Fowler and Rose have also been given a tournament exemption.

Rose is most in form of the quartet having finished with an eagle at Pebble Beach to finish T3. 

Spieth has won 13 times on the PGA Tour including three major titles, but his last victory now dates back to the RBC Heritage in April 2022. 

He just needs to win the US PGA to complete the career grand slam. 

Spieth is currently ranked 84th in the world. 

The American made his first start of the 2025 PGA Tour season after also receiving a sponsor invite to compete in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week.

That was also a $20m Signature Event, but he slumped to a lacklustre T69.

Spieth did at least close with an improved final-round 67 on Sunday to give him boost in confidence. 

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