Jordan Spieth Breaks His Silence on ‘Special Treatment’ Criticism: “Catching Stray for No Reason”
PGA, Golf Herren 2025: The Memorial Tournament Practice Rounds MAY 27 May 27, 2025: Jordan Spieth USA drives on the 1st hole at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Brent Clark/Cal Media Credit Image: Â Brent Clark/Cal Sport Media Dublin Oh USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20250528_zma_c04_012.jpg BrentxClarkx csmphotothree387021
PGA, Golf Herren 2025: The Memorial Tournament Practice Rounds MAY 27 May 27, 2025: Jordan Spieth USA drives on the 1st hole at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Brent Clark/Cal Media Credit Image: Â Brent Clark/Cal Sport Media Dublin Oh USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20250528_zma_c04_012.jpg BrentxClarkx csmphotothree387021
Jordan Spieth's return to pro golf came under a lot of scrutiny. And the golfer isn't hiding it.
Fans began to bash the three-time major champion after he accepted sponsor exemptions into five signature events in 2025. But what does Spieth think of the turbulence?
“It stinks. I was catching strays for no reason from guys who I had pretty good relationships with... I’m not, like, paying (tournaments) to get in. There's a reason that they’re going to pick me to go in. If it's going to be helpful to their tournament, then they're going to want me there, until they don't want me there.”
153rd Open Championship Jordan Spieth USA at the 6th during the third round of the 153rd Open Championship, played at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Co. Antrim, Ireland. 18/07/2025 Picture: Golffile Thos Caffrey All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey Portrush Royal Portrush Antrim Northern Ireland Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
153rd Open Championship Jordan Spieth USA at the 6th during the third round of the 153rd Open Championship, played at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Co. Antrim, Ireland. 18/07/2025 Picture: Golffile Thos Caffrey All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey Portrush Royal Portrush Antrim Northern Ireland Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
Spieth's comments aren't a surprise. Last year, when the exemptions were announced, Spieth had said, "Yeah, because I don’t — I didn’t like asking for exemptions this year at all. I was fortunate to receive a lot of them, but you just never know."
This came on the back of Robert Garrigus' comments last year, where he openly challenged to face off Spieth. The winner would get the exemptions. While no such game materialized, Spieth continued fighting to show he could qualify for events as well.
He finished T63rd at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, missed the cut for the Genesis Invitational, finished T18th at the RBC Heritage, ended at the T34 position at the Truist Championship, and scored a T7 finish at the Memorial Tournament.
“I’m doing anything anyone else is doing. I don't want to have to do it,” Spieth stood firm in his take.
But if he had the chance to go back in time and change things, would he do it?
Did Sponsor Exemptions Actually Help Jordan Spieth?
Spieth’s five sponsor exemptions allowed him to compete in the tournaments he otherwise wouldn’t have qualified for. But these invitations helped him generate 254 FedEx Cup points. That’s about 29% of his total regular-season points.
Meanwhile, another golfer, Rickie Fowler, produced more impact with sponsor exemptions. With six sponsor exemptions, he earned 319 FedEx Cup points, marking 48% of total regular-season points. His performance in those six events, especially the top-10 finish at the Memorial Championship, placed him inside the top-50 (48th) in the FedEx Cup standings.
Written by
Krushna Pattnaik
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar