Most golfers spend their careers trying to climb higher. They chase lower scores, better rankings, and the dream of ultimately becoming an elite player. But a former PGA Tour pro is doing the opposite. After more than a decade competing at golf’s highest level and earning millions, Colt Knost now wants to step back into the amateur ranks. While only Knost can say why he made this decision, analysts suggest that it is a ‘stunt’ to gain entry into the Masters.

Hosts Andy Johnson and Brendan Porath didn’t seem happy about Colt Knost’s reinstatement as an amateur. “I think this move seems dubious. But it was, for me, a play for attention and engagement on the podcast, which I’m not unfamiliar with either, sponsored by some off-brand Zen thing, and cut for social and sharing. And it’s worked and everybody’s hooting and hollering about it,” said Brendan Porath on the Fried Egg Golf podcast.

Knost has received a lot of criticism for his move, especially since he retired from the PGA Tour after earning millions and now wants to return to being an amateur. The former U.S. Amateur champion announced on his own Subpar podcast, “I have applied to get my amateur status back.”

It was not the announcement itself that stirred up the heat, but an X post from Sean Martin, the content head of the PGA tour, which read, “@ColtKnostannounced today that he’s seeking to become a reinstated amateur. This could lead to a most circuitous route to a Master’s debut.”

It’s not like Knost never got a chance to play in the Masters. The retired PGA Tour pro had an amazing amateur run. He won the 2007 U.S. Amateur, which comes with a Masters invitation. So he could have played the Masters, except that he chose not to. Instead, he turned pro right after the Walker Cup and gave up his spot at the 2008 Masters. Sean Martin described Knost’s frustration over this in his X post. “It’s frustrating the fact I never got there (Masters), but at the time I felt it was the right decision, 100%, and I still do,” Martin wrote Knost’s words in his post. In fact, Knost faced backlash from fans over this.

However, the retired tour pro recently clarified the reasons behind this move. To begin with, he aims to play just one event, Mid-Am. He also intends to captain the Walker Cup team. “My biggest thing in this is I’m very proud of my USGA resume, playing on the Walker Cup team was the biggest honor in my golfing career, and I would like to one day lead the USA Walker Cup team if at all possible,” he said on the Gravy & The Sleeze.

According to Porath, this could make even more people furious. “He was a pro for five years, made almost 5 million, won twice on KFT. I just like, I would think like making him the Walker Cup captain, not just reinstating him and then making him the Walker Cup captain, would make even more people furious,”

That being said, Colt Knost can become a Walker Cup captain someday. It’s not completely out of the question. Walker Cup captains are usually selected based on strong ties to amateur golf, leadership qualities, and experience. Since Knost won the 2007 US Amateur and has experience playing on the pro circuit, too, he could well be a good candidate for this. However, the fans still seem to be furious about the route he chose.

Knost has applied for amateur reinstatement, but the USGA has yet to make its decision. But how exactly do pro golfers regain amateur status?

How pro golfers return to amateur status

Professional golfers can regain amateur status by applying through the United States Golf Association (USGA). They have to answer a couple of dozen questions and pay a $200 fee. The questions ask for details like the last tour played, cuts made, prize money won, etc. Essentially, applicants have to demonstrate that they have ceased playing golf for prize money or engaging in professional golf activities. Colt Knost is not the only one who has made this decision.

Many tour pros before him have applied to regain amateur status. The legendary Jack Nicklaus’s son, Gary Nicklaus, did it in 2007. Dillard Pruitt is also among those who were granted reinstatement after playing on the tour for a decade. He soon won the Sunnehanna Amateur and Canadian Amateur after his reinstatement.

John Peterson and Brandon Holtz are some other golfers who did the same. In fact, 7 of the 8 US Mid-Am quarterfinalists in 2025 were former PGA Tour pros.

Knost’s case has reignited debate about where to draw the line between professionals and amateurs in modern golf. As more former professionals seek reinstatement, the sport may soon need more stringent rules to maintain fair competition and preserve the amateur spirit.