Colt Knost made his return to competitive golf this week at the 2025 Grass League Championship in Tempe, Arizona, marking his first tournament since 2020.
The event, a two-day, 36-hole par-3 scramble with 40 two-person teams competing for $100,000, immediately reignited debate over his attempt to regain amateur status.
After his opening round, media personality Paige Spiranac caught up with Knost and did not hold back.
“Is that why you’re trying to get your AM status back?” she asked, referencing the controversy surrounding his reinstatement. Knost responded with humor: “Oh, haters gonna hate. You know, trying to just get out here and play a few more tournaments occasionally. And I figured the AM route was the best way to go.”
Knost‘s last PGA Tour appearance was at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Since then, he has sought to return to amateur competition, sparking criticism from fans and analysts who question whether a former professional with a 12-year career, nearly 200 tour starts, and $4.5 million in earnings should be allowed back into amateur events.
Debate over Knost’s amateur status continues
Knost explained that part of his motivation for regaining amateur status is his goal to serve as a future U.S. Walker Cup captain.
He previously played in the 2007 Walker Cup, posting a 2-0-2 record and helping Team USA to victory. Critics, however, remain skeptical about whether his application aligns with the spirit of amateur golf.
Brendan Porath of the Fried Egg Golf podcast questioned Knost‘s intentions, suggesting the move may be more about attention than competition. “Choices have consequences. And he made $5 million, right? He was a bona fide tour pro for 12 years,” Porath said.
The USGA receives about 800 applications annually from former professionals seeking amateur reinstatement, and most are approved.
Still, the organization can deny requests from those in the “national prominence” category. Knost‘s case, along with similar instances in the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur, has sparked broader discussions about fairness in amateur golf.
With Paige Spiranac highlighting the controversy and fans divided on his intentions, Colt Knost‘s pursuit of amateur status continues to draw attention.
His decisions in upcoming tournaments and his aspirations for the Walker Cup are likely to keep this debate alive.
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