Guess I was “double dipping” when as a pga tour member I earned an exemption for the ‘95 Open with my play in Australia as a member of that tour.
By the way, when I asked for a release to defend the event I won the year before in Australia , the pga tour would not give me a release due to conflict with the LA Open, which I didnt get in the previous year, and didn’t even respond to requests for sponsor exemption consideration when I reached out (multiple times in different ways [letter/fax/call])
Players often played their home tours and racked up owgr points trying to get high enough for exemptions.
I have voiced my bias previously, but to explain, there is a LOT that the pha tour has done to allow a competitor an opening.
And again, it’s too bad what is going on, but I can see a lot of it from many angles.