Amateur Status

[SkiSchoolPro]

How long does it take a former PGA Tour winner to get reinstated?

[ThinkingPlus]

I'm guessing infinity.

[rogolf]

Maybe never? Ask the USGA.

[b.helts]

I played a bit with Dennis Paulson back in the day and he said he was good friends with a dude at the USGA and they laughed him out of the room when he applied for amateur status.

 

I think he won once, but he did have a longish career.

 

I don’t think it will ever happen.

[Mr. Bean]

If I am not mistaken the Amateur Rules were revised in this respect some years ago and a professional has a possibility to apply after 5 or 6 years from his last pro season. Earlier it was 10 years.

 

EDIT: It seems USGA is even faster: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/amateur-status/apply-for-reinstatement-to-amateur-status-25324.html

[Jagpilotohio]

If I am not mistaken the Amateur Rules were revised in this respect some years ago and a professional has a possibility to apply after 5 or 6 years from his last pro season. Earlier it was 10 years.

 

EDIT: It seems USGA is even faster: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/amateur-status/apply-for-reinstatement-to-amateur-status-25324.html

 

If someone was “in breach of the rules” of amateur status (being a pro) for more than 6 years, there is a 2 year waiting period FROM THE TIME OF THE LAST BREACH, (playing as a pro, calling himself a pro, teaching for money, or accepting cash prizes or other freebies) before he or she can even apply to be considered for reinstatement.

 

The one to two year wait requirement is primarily geared to PGA teaching Pros or apprentices that have left the business. I went through this process some years ago after I decided I wanted to play amateur events again.

 

Here’s the kicker for a tour pro.

 

“The routine period awaiting reinstatement is one or two years from the date of the last act contrary to the Rules of Amateur Status. Please note that longer periods may be prescribed in the case of an applicant who has played extensively for prize money.”

 

Essentially this is saying tour pros will have to wait a LONG time before even being considered. The fact it doesn’t even give an actual time frame tells you it’s REALLY frowned upon and may rarely actually happen.

[Shilgy]

Ask Dillard Pruitt

[Stuart_G]

It only took Gary Nicklaus ~5 years to get reinstated as an amateur after playing on the Tour. Although that's the time from his last season on tour - I don't know when he actually applied to get back his amateur status. Of course he wasn't a winner but I don't see how that would change anything. As I understand it the periods are more related to how long one was a professional (in breach of the amateur status rules), not how much money they won as a pro.

[SkiSchoolPro]

Thanks...interesting article on Pruitt

https://www.google.com/amp/s/golfweek.com/2002/06/29/dillard-pruitt-situation-no-threat-amateur-game/amp/

 

So a 5+ year PGA pro would have to wait at least 3 years, give up his Tour Card and never achieve National Prominence to get reinstated. I wonder if they factor in PGA Tour pensions?

[BrianMcG]

The stickler would be the "national prominence". That's a catch all where if they remotely heard of you then it can be denied.

 

These days if you only spent 4-5 years on tour, won an event or two, you could easily have raked in $10,000,000. There's no way the USGA would give someone like that their status back. They still have an advantage as they don't need to hold down a day job and can just play golf all day.

[Shilgy]

The stickler would be the "national prominence". That's a catch all where if they remotely heard of you then it can be denied.

 

These days if you only spent 4-5 years on tour, won an event or two, you could easily have raked in $10,000,000. There's no way the USGA would give someone like that their status back. They still have an advantage as they don't need to hold down a day job and can just play golf all day.

Easily win $10m in 4-5 years? That would be about 50th on tour all years. Pruitt's best was 61st on the money list. But you're correct, probably. That guy is unlikely to get reinstated.

[BrianMcG]

The stickler would be the "national prominence". That's a catch all where if they remotely heard of you then it can be denied.

 

These days if you only spent 4-5 years on tour, won an event or two, you could easily have raked in $10,000,000. There's no way the USGA would give someone like that their status back. They still have an advantage as they don't need to hold down a day job and can just play golf all day.

Easily win $10m in 4-5 years? That would be about 50th on tour all years. Pruitt's best was 61st on the money list. But you're correct, probably. That guy is unlikely to get reinstated.

 

They also make money with outings, sponsors, etc.

 

But compared to the same player in the 80s, who may have only cleared $200,000 with same results. He would have had to have a real job after leaving the tour.

[Mr. Bean]

The stickler would be the "national prominence". That's a catch all where if they remotely heard of you then it can be denied.

 

These days if you only spent 4-5 years on tour, won an event or two, you could easily have raked in $10,000,000. There's no way the USGA would give someone like that their status back. They still have an advantage as they don't need to hold down a day job and can just play golf all day.

 

I don't believe being able to play golf all day is the issue as there are millions of rich people who could do just that and yet they are amateurs. The real reason would be that such guys are just way too good to play with amateurs. Isn't that why USGA was criticized in Pruitt's case?

[Llortamaisey]

Which PGA Tour player with a card this year (2019) is most likely to get their amateur status back at a future date?

[Shilgy]

Which PGA Tour player with a card this year (2019) is most likely to get their amateur status back at a future date?

Spieth lol. He'll join Romo in the booth.

Yes I'm kidding.... Mostly. :) The real answer based on how you phrased the question would be a pick of the guys that DO NOT have a card in 2020.

[ThinkingPlus]

Which PGA Tour player with a card this year (2019) is most likely to get their amateur status back at a future date?

Smiley smiles.

[BrianMcG]

The stickler would be the "national prominence". That's a catch all where if they remotely heard of you then it can be denied.

 

These days if you only spent 4-5 years on tour, won an event or two, you could easily have raked in $10,000,000. There's no way the USGA would give someone like that their status back. They still have an advantage as they don't need to hold down a day job and can just play golf all day.

 

I don't believe being able to play golf all day is the issue as there are millions of rich people who could do just that and yet they are amateurs. The real reason would be that such guys are just way too good to play with amateurs. Isn't that why USGA was criticized in Pruitt's case?

 

True, but if they never played on tour or won a tournament, they were never pros to begin with.

 

A person who was good enough to play on tour, win, collect a sizeable amount of money, benefits from that nearly indefinitely. Hence, the USGA could deny status back.

[SkiSchoolPro]

Which PGA Tour player with a card this year (2019) is most likely to get their amateur status back at a future date?

2017 full card, might still have past champions status

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thecabin.net/news/local/sports/2017-09-29/molder-says-it-was-time-begin-new-journey%3ftemplate=ampart

[tatertot]

The stickler would be the "national prominence". That's a catch all where if they remotely heard of you then it can be denied.

 

These days if you only spent 4-5 years on tour, won an event or two, you could easily have raked in $10,000,000. There's no way the USGA would give someone like that their status back. They still have an advantage as they don't need to hold down a day job and can just play golf all day.

 

I don't believe being able to play golf all day is the issue as there are millions of rich people who could do just that and yet they are amateurs. The real reason would be that such guys are just way too good to play with amateurs. Isn't that why USGA was criticized in Pruitt's case?

 

True, but if they never played on tour or won a tournament, they were never pros to begin with.

 

A person who was good enough to play on tour, win, collect a sizeable amount of money, benefits from that nearly indefinitely. Hence, the USGA could deny status back.

l

 

Lots of pros never make it to the Tour ... Most pros don't make it to the Tour.

[BMC]

Maybe Anthony Kim is waiting for his amateur reinstatement?

[BrianMcG]

Didn’t Mac O’Grady try to petition the USGA to allow him to qualify for the US Open as a lefty amateur?

[T-W]

Does anyone know how long/what the process is like for a PGA Professional to regain Am status? I went through PGM 2.0, taught lessons for a fee, etc. but have been out of the golf business for several years. I am wanting to compete in some local and state level amateur events.

[UncleJohn’sBand]

> @T-W said:

> Does anyone know how long/what the process is like for a PGA Professional to regain Am status? I went through PGM 2.0, taught lessons for a fee, etc. but have been out of the golf business for several years. I am wanting to compete in some local and state level amateur events.

 

Same thing as the anyone. Go to their website and start the process. If you've been out of the business for a while, they should prorate your time since you were last active as a "professional"