The organizers of the Arnold Palmer Invitational pulled a surprise by denying sponsor exemptions to PGA Tour fan favorites Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth.

Jordan Spieth will miss out on vital Masters preparations after being overlooked for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, with Rickie Fowler also being snubbed

The API field was released late Friday afternoon and 47 of the top-50 players on the world rankings have committed. The only absences are two players on the LIV Golf League, No. 8 Tyrrell Hatton and No. 11 Bryson DeChambeau, and No. 45 Rasmus Hojgaard, who is not eligible for the event.

Tournament director Drew Donovan declined to name any of the four sponsor invites or to divulge the selection committee’s criteria.

Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, told Golfweek on Thursday that despite their popularity, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth would not receive exemptions into the field for the Arnold Palmer Invitational next month.

Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, arguably two of the bigger draws in golf, have been informed they will not be receiving sponsor exemptions into next week's signature event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill,

Arnold Palmer's grandson Sam Saunders has confirmed that Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth have both missed out on exemptions for Bay Hill this year

Jordan Spieth will not compete at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill next week, after his poor run of form saw him fail to qualify automatically or through a sponsor exemption