Everyone talks about the glamorous leap from amateur to professional, but hardly anyone mentions going the other way. After all, why would a pro golfer step back into the amateur world, where there’s no prize money and barely any media attention? However, surprisingly, it makes sense.

After years on the pro circuit, the constant pressure can wear you down. Returning to amateur status offers a quieter, more enjoyable way to keep playing the game you love, even after retirement. That’s why many pros have chosen this path. It’s not an instant switch, though.

Getting your amateur card can take six months or more and costs around $200. Most recently, Colt Knost applied for his, and while it’s still pending, he joins a list of retired pros who’ve rediscovered the game through the amateur circuit.

#1: Dillard Pruitt

The pro golfer contended in the major stages back in the 1980s and 1990s. When he returned to the amateur scene, things got heated in a controversy. Pruitt had competed for nine years in the Tour, securing the 1991 Chattanooga Classic. Amassing over $1 million in career earnings, Pruitt had a successful professional career, marked with solid performances and multiple strong finishes.

The pro career ended in 1996, and the golfer applied for the amateur card, which he gained around 2002. Six short months later, Pruitt claimed his first amateur victory since his return at the Sunnehanna Amateur. Quickly after, he followed it up with a victory at the Canadian Amateur.

This string of successes raised questions like where the line needs to be drawn. “But I think there has to be a line in the sand somewhere, a point of no return,” suggested career amateur Danny Green. Although controversial, Pruitt became one of the most iconic returns to the paycheck-less circuit.

#2: Gary Nicklaus

Gary Nicklaus, son of golf legend Jack Nicklaus, has, hands down, had one of the most interesting careers. While he failed to live up to his father’s mark in golf, Nicklaus had his own spotlight moments. Turning pro in 1994, Nicklaus made multiple failed attempts at gaining a PGA Tour card.

Finally, in his 8th attempt, Nicklaus made it through the PGA Qualifying School, beginning his Tour career in 1999. Soon after, in 2000, at the BellSouth Classic at Atlanta, Nicklaus brought his first highlight performance, finishing runner-up to Phil Mickelson. That decision came from a sudden-death playoff, where Nicklaus faltered.

After finishing three seasons on the PGA Tour, Nicklaus retired from competitive golf in 2003. Gary focused on his role as vice chairman of the Nicklaus Companies, but later sought to rekindle his competitive spirit. He regained his amateur status in 2007 and began competing in regional events, eventually qualifying again for the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur.

In the 2012 US Amateur, Nicklaus beat all odds to return to the Cherry Hills CC after 22 years. That ended in a disappointing 4-over finish, failing to make the cut. A similar run came in 2018, failing to make the cut.

#3: John Peterson

John Perterson might not be the most popular name in the circuit, but he surely reflected incredible golfing prowess during his pro stint. Winning the 2011 NCAA Division I individual championship kick-started his PGA Tour career with a temporary card. Peterson turned professional the same year. He soon established his name across both the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. One of his best finishes came at the 2012 US Open, where he finished T4th.

After a series of disappointing finishes and a falling game, Peterson retired from professional golf. However, even after his retirement, his passion for the sport remained alive. He applied for amateur status, regaining access to the amateur events. While he continues to compete in amateur events, Peterson also owns a small business, Westoplex Garage.

#4: Brandon Holtz

Following one of the more unconventional paths into pro golf. Despite turning pro in 2009 after his graduation, Holtz spent years chasing mini-tour opportunities. The golfer never qualified for the PGA Tour. After a 15-year pro career, Holtz returned to amateur in 2024.

That decision paid off spectacularly when he captured the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, in his very first USGA event. Holtz edged Jeg Coughlin III in a grueling 36-hole final, closing out the match 3 and 2 with a birdie on the 34th hole.

#5: Justin Hueber

One of the most seasoned competitors in the Korn Ferry Tour, Justin Hueber grinded through 87 starts before regaining his amateur status. Hueber first turned pro in 2009 and competed steadily through 2021. His ball-striking earned him considerable praise and a reputation as the tour’s veteran.

However, beginning his amateur stint, Hueber began writing a new chapter in his career. Reaching the quarterfinals of the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club, Hueber made his mark just months after his reinstatement. The pro-turned-am continues to contend in major amateur events, even though he doesn’t hold a World Amateur Golf Ranking yet.

From seasoned tour veterans to mini-tour grinders, these five golfers prove that passion for the game doesn’t fade with a change in status. Their journeys back to amateur golf highlight not just second chances but the enduring love of competition.