The 2008 United States Amateur champion Danny Lee decided to retain his amateur status in order to compete in this year's Masters tournament. Lee didn't fare very well during his first appearance at Augusta National Golf Club, failing to make the cut by a significant margain finishing two rounds of play at 11-over-par.
Lee did turn professional shortly thereafter, forfitting a spot in the U.S. Open reserved for the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. Lee attempted to play his way into the field at Bethpage Black, but was unsuccessful in his effort. Sacrificing his amateur status and turning professional enabled him to cash in on endorsement deals and prize money, but came with the added risk of missing the national championship for Lee, but he didn't petition the USGA to reinstate his amateur status. He made a decision and had to live with it.
That's not the case in the story of former champion junior golfer turned internet poker prodigy Dustin Schmidt and his battle against the United States Golf Association to regain his amateur status.
Schmidt was an excellent young golfer growing up in Southern California and appeared destined for professional success before a heart attack due to a condition that created spasms within the chambers of his heart derailed his initial golf dreams at the age of 23.
During his five years away from the game, Schmidt turned his attention to online poker and experienced great success, reportedly winning in excess of $3 million. This April, Schmidt, now 28, issued a $1 million golf-poker challenge that dared all comers to defeat him over 72 holes of golf and 10 heads-up poker matches.
It's important to note that Schmidt had declared himself as a professional golfer prior to his heart attack, but had his amateur status reinstated earlier this year by the USGA.
Seemingly aware of the potential for his $1 million poker-golf challenge to affect his newly regained amateur golf status, Schmidt recalled to Poker News Daily the dialogue he had with the USGA and admitted that he was aware that the prop bet could have a negative impact on his status.
"I told them (USGA) I was aware of that and asked for an advisory opinion of how to move forward," Schmidt told Poker News Daily. "The rules of golf allowed me to seek an opinion. In the end, it was determined that only if someone took me up on it (the poker-golf challenge), I would have an issue.
Well there we no takers, but Schmidt's status was still revoked by the USGA.
According to the Poker News Daily report, Schmidt received an email from the USGA stating that the person who had provided him with the advisory opinion had simply changed his mind and that just issuing challenge had resulted in the loss of his amateur status.
With the summer golf season in Oregon, where Schmidt resides, in full swing, Schmidt sought a preliminary injunction from the U.S. Disctrict Court in Portland to reinstate his amateur status so he would be able to compete in summer tournaments. The injunction was denied, and a full trial is tentatively set for September.
"I've missed out on events that are important to me," Schmidt said. "I didn't do anything wrong, though. I asked for an advisory opinion and they said it was fine."
Unfortunately Schmidt comes off as far too transparent of a figure who isn't upset that his amateur status has been revoked, he's upset his prop bet didn't land him $1 million. If Danny Lee had won The Masters and lost out on more than $1 million in prize money he wouldn't have dared to take golf's governing bodies to court in an attempt to retroactively declare himself a professional. I understand that analogy is a bit of a stretch, but I think you see what I'm getting at.
If Schmidt's real concern was being able to compete in these amateur events he holds so dear, he would've never publicized such a bet.
I also find fault with the USGA, especially if they changed their mind after issuing an initial ruling, but even if they did not the language they provided in court documents was flawed.
"Having promoted his prize money golf-poker contest for two months and having obtained tremendous publicity for himself, his entreprenureal Web site and his prize money scheme, Mr. Schmidt cannot unring the bell no matter how hard he tries," documents read.
If promoting yourself and obtaining publicity prohibit a golfer from retaining amateur status in the eyes of the USGA wouldn't a 13-year-old Michelle Wie or any aspiring young golf prodigy who performs in public at a major junior golf event be in violation of such a rule. Aren't they showing off for potential sponsors and equipment suppliers, thus enhancing their earning prospects.
In this case, two wrongs certainly won't create a right. The USGA should let the man play amateur golf in Oregon, and Mr. Schmidt should apologize to Bobby Jones and every amateur golfer after him for his selfish behavior that surely wasn't in the best interest of golf's integrity.