Joseph Bramlett was named the recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial exemption for the 2020 Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods announced Tuesday.
The exemption, awarded annually since 2009 to a golfer representing a minority background, exists to promote diversity in golf. The exemption was re-named in 2017 to honor Charlie Sifford, the first African-American player to compete on the PGA Tour.
Harold Varner III (2014), J.J. Spaun (2016) and Cameron Champ are among past recipients.
“It’s great seeing Joseph back on Tour,” Woods said in a statement. “The determination to rebuild his swing and regain his card shows the perseverance Charlie would have admired.”
Bramlett, the first two-time recipient of the Sifford exemption after receiving the honor as a rookie in 2011, suffered an annular tear to his L4 and L5 discs in 2013 while playing on the Korn Ferry Tour. Since his injury, Bramlett changed his swing to reduce pressure on his back and has since played in 11 PGA Tour events, including eight this season. He most recently played in the Farmers Insurance Open in which he tied for 45th.
Bramlett earned his PGA TOUR card in 2019 for the first time since 2011 after finishing in the top 25 in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
“Being selected to represent and promote the diversity of the game through this tournament in 2011 was an experience that I’ll never forget,” Bramlett said in a statement. “Receiving the exemption again in 2020 is a huge honor, but an even greater opportunity for me to carry on Mr. Sifford’s legacy of promoting the game of golf to minority communities across the country. I sincerely thank Tiger and TGR Foundation for this opportunity and for all the incredible work they do throughout the year.”
The 2020 Genesis Invitational will be held Feb. 13-16 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The full field will be announced Feb. 7.
It’s the first year the Genesis will have invitational status, meaning the field will be limited to 120 players.
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