Former PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour players reach all-ex-pro final at 2027 U.S. Mid-Amateur
The U.S. Mid-Amateur final is down to a Idaho homebuilder and a national sales manager for a golf apparel company. Both are also former pro golfers.
In a dramatic culmination of five intense days, the 2027 U.S. Mid-Amateur final has narrowed down to just two athletes: Nate Smith, a 43-year-old Idaho homebuilder, and Andrew Bailey, a 34-year-old national sales manager for a golf apparel company. Both men share a common thread – they were once professional golfers, a trend that has become increasingly prevalent in recent U.S. Golf Association events.
Nate Smith, hailing from Santa Monica, California, now resides in Tetonia, Idaho. After hanging up his clubs in 2022, nine years after his professional career ended, Smith returned to amateur golf, earning one Korn Ferry Tour victory and securing approximately $171,000 in earnings from 25 PGA Tour starts. In a statement to idahoga.org, Smith admitted to initial reservations about rejoining the amateur ranks, concerned that others might question his decision.
However, he emphasized that the passage of time has only strengthened his passion for the game, and he was eager to compete on the amateur level. The USGA expedited his amateur status reinstatement within just three days.
Andrew Bailey, born in Cleveland, Ohio, took up golf professionally in 2014 while still an undergraduate at Cleveland State University. He competed on both the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour Americas before regaining his amateur status and subsequently winning the Ohio Amateur championships in 2024 and 2025. Bailey now holds the position of national sales manager for the golf apparel company, Holderness & Bourne.
This all-ex-pro final highlights a recurring trend in recent U.S. Golf Association competitions. As noted by Tee Times (@TeeTimesPub) on September 30, 2026, seven out of the eight players advancing to the quarterfinals are former professionals. This phenomenon has sparked debate, with some expressing concern over the state of the amateur game. The quarterfinals match-play concludes at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2027, at Sand Valley Resort's The Lido in Nekoosa, Wisconsin.
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