He was expected to compete in this month’s Signature Event at the Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts, but withdrew following the death of his mother, Kultida. Woods has been playing a part-time schedule on tour for some time now as he continues to grapple with various injuries.

His absence at Torrey Pines, however, opened the door for a potential return at Bay Hill, but he has chosen not to use his exemption. Though he’s not the sole top player missing from the lineup, with two ex-Ryder Cup teammates Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth also absent from the Entry List.

The pair have had a tough time hitting their stride in the last year, leading to a slip from their usual headline events. Despite an invitation to this month’s Genesis, they won’t be teeing off at next week’s API, which is certainly set to be a blow to Fowler and Spieth, names synonymous with the PGA Tour during their professional journey.

Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson, who plays a part in extending invites, shed some light on why Fowler and Spieth were overlooked. “What our team did was try to pick players that, you know, it’s about protecting and growing the game of golf as a whole. And doing what’s the most balanced and fair process,” Saunders said, per Golfweek.

“Honestly, I think there was a lot of thought put into each and every player that was selected. At the end of the day, it’s who’s getting the ball in the hole the fastest that are the ones who get the opportunities. You can’t make everybody happy with exemptions. So you try to just do it as fair and balanced as possible.”

In a move away from more familiar faces, Saunders and the team awarded their four tournament invitations to Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Mackenzie Hughes, and Rafa Campos.