Wells Fargo Sponsor Exemptions: Rory And Locals

   When Kym Hougham and the leaders of the Wells Fargo Championship set about deciding which players would get precious sponsor exemptions into the tournament, they relied on a familiar theme.

   They went with players who have local connections.

   Sam Saunders attended Clemson and is the grandson of Quail Hollow member Arnold Palmer who has long and deep ties to Charlotte.

   Mathew Goggin lives here and is the leading money winner on the Nationwide Tour this year.

   Brad Faxon played at Furman and has been a loyal supporter of the tournament through its nine years.

   Joe Ogilvie, who some think may be the commissioner in the future, played at Duke.

   Charles Warren was NCAA champion at Clemson and lives in Greenville, S.C.

   Oh yeah, they gave one to defending champion Rory McIlroy, too. Because he's not a member of the PGA Tour this year, he needed the exemption here.

   The tour also gives two exemptions which went to Martin Kaymer, who could become No. 1 in the world again depending on how Luke Donald and Lee Westwood play in New Orleans and Korea, respectively, and to Edoardo Molinari.

   The tournament still has two more exemptions to give and they're likely to go to players with local ties, also.