[Photo: Kevin C. Cox]
It appears the USGA is addressing one of the more controversial topics in the amateur game, and its initial warning shot was addressed to CBS Sports’ Colt Knost.
Over the past decade, the governing body for the United States and Mexico has taken a more relaxed approach to allowing former professional golfers to regain amateur status. The upshot has led to growing debate about whether the USGA has become too casual about the process, with complaints from amateurs that top am events have turned into de facto professional events from those who washed out on mini-circuits. To critics, the 2025 US Mid-Am was emblematic of this issue, as six of the quarter-finalists were former professionals.
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To be fair, this is a weird time in amateur sports with the advent and Wild West nature of Name, Image and Likeness compensation. Conversely, there are many in the sport who feel those who have played professional golf returning to the amateur ranks violates the spirit of the game, especially at prestigious events that have exemptions into major championships. Knost found this out when he announced on a podcast last year that he was seeking reinstated status. Knost had made more than $US5 million in on-course earnings alone on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, winning twice on the former Nationwide circuit, before retiring to become a broadcaster. It is unclear if it was a stunt – Knost said his decision was “solely because of all the complaining” about the subject, although he later said he wanted to one day be part of the Walker Cup – but his move proved to be a flashpoint for the topic on social media.
Overnight, Knost shared an update from the USGA that his application had been put on hold.
In a comment to Golf Digest, a USGA spokesperson said: “The USGA is currently reviewing its amateur status reinstatement guidelines and, as part of that process, has temporarily paused the processing of a select number of reinstatement applications. The review is focused on the role and purpose of reinstatement and waiting periods, including how those elements work together and their impact on the amateur game. We believe it is important to take a thoughtful look at the current framework before determining whether any changes are appropriate.”
Behind the scenes, the USGA has been aware of the growing outcry, and in the coming months is likely to announce they are codifying a new application process, one that hopes to protect the integrity of the amateur game. At this year’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills, the USGA’s Kevin Hammer and John Bodenhamer briefly addressed the matter.
“I have many friends that are reinstated amateurs that have come through the mid-amateur game. I think at the end of the day, do we want to welcome them back into the game? Every single individual’s case is so different, so we’ve got a whole team of people that look at that,” Hammer said. “As you know, some of the qualification criteria that is changed over time, and it will probably continue to be tweaked over time as well. At the end of the day, is the game better with those reinstated professionals back in the amateur game, in a reinstated way? I think the answer is, yes.”
Added Bodenhamer: “I would add to that one thing as a consideration. That used to be my world a few years ago more so. I think you have to look at the picture holistically. As Kevin said, we want to welcome people back that maybe spent a few months instructing or playing or whatever it did contrary to the rules of amateur status.
“I think what we also look at is that context. Should that person be welcomed back in the game pretty quickly? Yeah, we think so. But the player that maybe had a longer tour career or a little bit more success, maybe they should wait a little bit longer, and we do do that. We do have that process. It is a balance. It’s not just the one-size-fits-all is my point.”
The 2026 US Mid-Am takes place later this month at Sand Valley in Nebraska. The defending champion, Brandon Holtz, is a reinstated professional.
