Adam Scott returned to the Sony Open for the first time in three years and jokingly said it was a good place to stop on the way back from Australia. He had other motives, of course.

For the second time in three years, the 45-year-old former world No.1 finished outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup and is not eligible for the $US20 million ($A30 million) Signature events.

"So I thought I'd try to get a jump on things, rather than show up in February and chase," 2013 Masters champion Scott said.

He tied for 40th last week in Hawaii and then flew to California for The American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Otherwise, it's going through the process of two years ago when he had to rely on sponsor exemptions for the Signature events.

Scott asked for (and received) exemptions into five of the Signature events in 2024, and he can only wonder if it will hurt his chances going through another round of them.

Scott is in a tougher spot than Jordan Spieth, who received five sponsor exemptions in 2025 and narrowly missed out on the top 50, which would have qualified him.

Spieth finished 61st at the end of the year. He is virtually a lock for Pebble Beach because of its 80-man field, and he's likely to narrowly get into the Genesis Invitational. His goal is to play well enough in Phoenix, Pebble and LA for this not to be an issue.

"I think sponsor invites are for purely who they think they want there," Scott said.

"And I'm fine with that. I didn't apply for them all the last time and I won't be applying for them all this time. It's not that I'm trying to share the love or expect to get them all, but I've got to make some plans. It was hard waiting around to see."

It is easier to plan for events when his home base is Switzerland. Among those he has sought are for the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, where he has won twice (once unofficially because it was shortened to 36 holes by rain). However, he is at peace with whatever tournaments decide.

"I just have to play better," he said.

Spieth had three legs of the career grand slam before his 24th birthday and remains one of the more popular draws in golf.

Three-time major runner-up and another crowd favourite Rickie Fowler received six exemptions a year ago, while Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S Open champion recovering from brain surgery, has received seven exemptions to Signature events the last two years.