Golfer Dusty Schmidt has been denied his amateur status by the USGA, after he threw down a million dollar challenge to anyone who could beat him at 72 holes of golf and a game of poker.
Schmidt has filed a complaint seeking a restraining order that would allow him to retain his amateur status so that he could play in a series of events in the Pacific Northwest. The hearing is scheduled to take place next Monday in the U.S. District Court in Portland.
Schmidt said “At the end of the day, I’m trying to get my amateur status back. I am trying to fight for my right NOT to make money playing golf, basically. I just want to play golf, and I believe I should be allowed to play golf.”
Schmidt was a promising golfer who went pro after a year at UC Irvine. His career was cut short when he suffered a heart attack at the age of 23. While he was recovering, he took to playing online poker. Over time, he gradually built up an impressive income playing online poker. Five years later, he enjoys a comfortable lifestyle, and estimates that he has won more than $3 million by playing online. He put up a Million Dollar Challenge on his web site, and released a press release about it, but has not had anyone take him up on his challenge.
The USGA revoked Schmidt’s amateur status on June 11th when they learned about the challenge. The USGA said in their court documents that “Having promoted his prize money golf/poker contest for two months and having obtained tremendous publicity for himself, his entrepreneurial web site, and his prize money scheme, Mr Schmidt cannot unring the bell no matter how hard he tries.”
Email this page
Print this page
Bookmark with del.icio.us
