Fowler, Lovemark, Duval get into Hope

Rickie Fowler, Jamie Lovemark and David Duval are among the players that have received sponsor exemptions for the Bob Hope Classic, which will be played Jan. 20-24 in the California desert.

Fowler and Lovemark, two Southern California natives, have had success in the desert. They tied for second in last year’s Frys.com Open in Arizona, losing a playoff to Troy Matteson.

The Hope start will be especially important for Lovemark, who doesn’t have status on the PGA Tour after he failed to advance past the second stage of Q-School (he has conditional Nationwide Tour status based on his earnings on the PGA Tour in 2009).

Lovemark recently took a lesson from swing instructor Sean Foley, who also works with Hunter Mahan, Sean O’Hair, Stephen Ames and Trevor Immelman.

Rocco Mediate, Joe Ogilvie, Steve Elkington, Billy Mayfair and Sam Saunders also received exemptions. Saunders is the grandson of Arnold Palmer, a five-time winner of the Hope.