New U.S. Open rule won't help Kizzire now, but it's a 'good change'

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – A recent tweak to the list of U.S. Open exemptions brings a smile to Patton Kizzire’s face, even if it won’t benefit him this time around.

The USGA has restored an old rule that offers a U.S. Open exemption to any player who wins multiple full-FedExCup point events in the year leading up to the event. A multiple-win exemption was previously offered to players until 2012, when the organization instead opted to exempt the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking the month before the tournament.

The specifics received some attention last season, when Kizzire won his maiden PGA Tour event at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in November 2017 and added the Sony Open title two months later.