Bay Hill & Memorial To Get 3-Year Exemptions For Wins

Intriguing news from Doug Ferguson that Bay Hill and Memorial--aka Arnold and Jack's events--will have a three-year PGA Tour exemption awaiting winners instead of the usual two.

The tour policy board has approved and they're also considering allowing for higher purses.

In some respects, the tour is acknowledging how difficult it is for tournaments to distinguish themselves. In the last 15 years, the PGA Tour has added four WGCs and three FedEx Cup playoff events to the schedule.

''This was more our desire to recognize two iconic figures who started and operate two world-class tournaments that for decades were lynch pins on our schedule,'' said Andy Pazder, the tour's chief of operations. ''We wanted to make sure their place on the tour calendar, as far as being a high-caliber, world-class event, was secure for well into the future.''

I don't get the move in the sense that both events are above-average draws in terms of fields, but the precedent setting is sound. There are no Jack's and Arnold's in the pipeline other than Tiger, and his events are a long way from being established enough to warrant similar consideration.