Dan Rapaport has warned the USGA they could have a ‘real problem’ forming and has urged them to ‘do something’

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Former professional golfers are putting the future of the amateur game in serious jeopardy.

It’s a controversy unique to golf, as the sport seeks to protect amateur events from former tour professionals who wish to reinstate their amateur status. 

Debate on the topic raged when a former professional, Colt Knost, who has nearly 200 starts on the PGA Tour, announced that he had applied to regain his amateur status. He aims to compete in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which offers the winner invitations to The Masters and US Open.

But the US Mid-Am is an event reserved for non-professionals, giving them the otherwise unattainable possibility of qualifying for the prestigious major championships.

Knost, for all intents and purposes, is a professional. He’s made millions on the PGA Tour, raising questions about whether he should be able to play in these events. Golf analyst Dan Rapaport thinks that he is threatening the integrity of the amateur game. 

Dan Rapaport warns USGA that former professionals playing in amateur events is a ‘real problem’

Knost isn’t the only former pro attempting to compete in these amateur events. At the last US Mid-Am, six of the eight quarter finalists were former tour professionals, including the eventual winner, Brandon Holtz.

Rapaport thinks that’s a significant issue for the USGA. He explained on Dan on Golf: “No reinstated pros in amateur events. Because the US Mid-AM was the failed former Tour Pro Open, is what I called it. 

“Bobby Jones is rolling over in his grave somewhere. Look, I think turning pro should mean something. If you play pro basketball for a couple years and then you flame out, you’re always a professional basketball player.

“I don’t see why that’s any different in golf. The Mid-AM has a real problem on their hands. I’ve been talking to some of my friends down at the USGA, and I’m like, ‘You guys have got to do something about this.’

“When you play pro golf, you are practicing every day, and you are practicing for hours every day. Just because you’re not playing as much doesn’t mean that part goes away.

“Let’s say you’re a former tour pro, obviously Colt Knost said he’s trying to get his amateur status back, and obviously it’s nothing against Colt, 199 starts on the PGA Tour, $4.3 million in earnings, if he’s going to get his amateur status back, then amateur status might as well not be a thing.

“Anyone can play in amateur events, if you want to just say you’re an amateur. I don’t think that should happen, obviously. A guy like that can say, ‘Oh my game’s not good, my game’s not good’. You give these guys a month to practice for the US Mid-Am and that pro-ness comes back. It doesn’t just go away.

“So, I think it’s pretty simple. If you turn pro, you should have no problem with playing in club events. Clubs can make their own rules if they want to let pros play. If you have a handicap, I’ve got no problem with you having a handicap. There’s no rule against pros having a handicap. 

“So, you can play and you can leave it up to the clubs if they want to let you play in the club championship. But, you should not be able to play in USGA events. If you played as a professional golfer, you should not be able to play in USGA amateur events. I think it’s pretty simple.”

There are a lot of rule changes the USGA should make in the sport, but making this change high on the list is crucial.

Colt Knost defends decision to apply for amateur status

Knost has faced plenty of criticism from those attempting to protect the amateur game for his attempts to reinstate his amateur status.

He took to SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio to explain his decision, stating that his aim is to become a Walker Cup captain, and he wants to return to amateur status to help achieve that goal. 

Knost said, “I wish people would sit back and take a second to ask why I’m doing this, instead of just assuming that I’m going to play 25 events a year. I have several jobs.

“I don’t really have time to play a lot on the amateur circuit, when most of them are during the summer, and I’m travelling around the country for CBS.

“My biggest thing in this, I’m very proud of my USGA resume, playing on the Walker Cup team was the biggest honor of my career, and I would like to one day lead the United States Walker Cup team if at all possible. I figured being an amateur would probably help.”

It seems like a case of wanting your cake and eating it too. Knost was happy to earn millions of dollars on the PGA Tour. That’s an incredible achievement, and something he should be proud of. But in doing so, he should have sacrificed his right to play in amateur events. That’s the trade-off.

Knost is in no way entitled to his amateur status, and the USGA needs to seriously consider its role in protecting the game for non-professionals.