Can you play in pro and am worlds in the same year

[joshmo65]

If I have enough points to qualify for both, is there any rules against playing in both tournaments? I heard that in order to get an invite to pro worlds, you must be registered as a pro the year you get the points, thus making you ineligible for am worlds, but I couldn't really find any documentation supporting this.

 

[WhiteyBear]

If I have enough points to qualify for both, is there any rules against playing in both tournaments? I heard that in order to get an invite to pro worlds, you must be registered as a pro the year you get the points, thus making you ineligible for am worlds, but I couldn't really find any documentation supporting this.

All depends on your rating. You could be a Pro Worlds champion and still play (and win) in the AM Worlds championship as well. Which is a HUGE flaw in the system.

 

[notroman]

If I have enough points to qualify for both, is there any rules against playing in both tournaments? I heard that in order to get an invite to pro worlds, you must be registered as a pro the year you get the points, thus making you ineligible for am worlds, but I couldn't really find any documentation supporting this.

I'm not sure where you heard that. You can play pro worlds while still being classified as an Am, provided that you have enough points from pro events. Actually, that is just for the early pre-registration. If the field does not fill and they open it up to the public, anyone can sign up regardless of their rating/status. The tournament usually fills before that though.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Currently, the only way to play in both is to be classified as an Am. Even if you earn enough pro points during the previous year, you won't get an invite to pro worlds if you are classified as an Am. So you would have to wait until open registration to enter Pro Worlds. Probably easier to pull off if you are female or a Legend like Pete May who has won both Am and Pro World titles in one year.

 

[JC17393]

All depends on your rating. You could be a Pro Worlds champion and still play (and win) in the AM Worlds championship as well. Which is a HUGE flaw in the system.

Not quite. There are ZERO ratings criteria when it comes to playing Am Worlds. The only restriction is that you must be a registered AM in order to participate. If you are registered as a Pro with the PDGA, it doesn't matter what your rating is, you are barred from playing Am Worlds.

However, if you are a registered AM, you can participate (and win, I suppose) at Pro Worlds. So long as you don't accept cash, you'd also remain eligible to play Am Worlds if you so choose.

 

[joshmo65]

Currently, the only way to play in both is to be classified as an Am. Even if you earn enough pro points during the previous year, you won't get an invite to pro worlds if you are classified as an Am. So you would have to wait until open registration to enter Pro Worlds. Probably easier to pull off if you are female or a Legend like Pete May who has won both Am and Pro World titles in one year.

Aww crap. Can I register as pro this year, get an invite and then reclassify as am at the beginning of next year to get into the majors?

 

[joshmo65]

I really want another shot at am worlds and US am championships, but also want to play pro worlds at my home courses. There is going to be no way that is possible with the way everything sold out so fast this year.

 

[bradharris]

Aww crap. Can I register as pro this year, get an invite and then reclassify as am at the beginning of next year to get into the majors?

Once you're classified as a pro you're stuck there. I believe you can petition the PDGA to restore Am status in some situations, but that's not a common occurrence.

 

[JC17393]

Aww crap. Can I register as pro this year, get an invite and then reclassify as am at the beginning of next year to get into the majors?

I'm not so sure that re-classification is an instantaneous thing, at least in the sense that you could get your invitation to Pro Worlds in February or March or whenever they do that, then re-classify in time to go to, say, USADGC in June.

Basically, I think you have a choice for 2015...Pro Worlds or the am majors. If you go the Pro route with the intent to re-classify, I would plan on the reclassification not going into effect until the 2016 season. Of course, that doesn't preclude you from playing am events (assuming your rating is low enough) as a registered pro in the meantime. That would probably be a good idea, as I believe one of the requisites for reclassification is not having cashed in a pro division in at least a year.

 

[joshmo65]

Yea. The reclassification thing was jokingly asked... unless it worked.

I don't think that my rating will be over 970 anytime in the following year, so basically I can play all of the am events, except the two that I would really like to go back to. :wall:

 

[WhiteyBear]

Not quite. There are ZERO ratings criteria when it comes to playing Am Worlds. The only restriction is that you must be a registered AM in order to participate. If you are registered as a Pro with the PDGA, it doesn't matter what your rating is, you are barred from playing Am Worlds.

However, if you are a registered AM, you can participate (and win, I suppose) at Pro Worlds. So long as you don't accept cash, you'd also remain eligible to play Am Worlds if you so choose.

Well, I might need some clarification into that rule then...

The rule states "Players are awarded Amateur points for their performance but these points are not eligible for year-end awards or Worlds invitations."

Meaning then don't get the invite, but are they fully barred from Worlds if they try to get in on standby?

Still, to my it's pretty sad that a player can win Pro Worlds in their division, and still be allowed to play AM Worlds as well. You beat the best in the world in your division, you are no longer an AM. That's a problem.

 

[JC17393]

Well, I might need some clarification into that rule then...

The rule states "Players are awarded Amateur points for their performance but these points are not eligible for year-end awards or Worlds invitations."

Meaning then don't get the invite, but are they fully barred from Worlds if they try to get in on standby?

Still, to my it's pretty sad that a player can win Pro Worlds in their division, and still be allowed to play AM Worlds as well. You beat the best in the world in your division, you are no longer an AM. That's a problem.

You quoted part B of the "Pros Playing Am" rule in the competition manual, but you are overlooking part A...

"Professionals may compete in Amateur divisions offered at PDGA A, B, and C Tier events, for which they qualify based on player rating, age, and sex as detailed in the PROS PLAYING AM section of the Divisions, Ratings, Points Factors table."

Registered pros are allowed to play in am divisions for which they qualify ONLY in A, B, and C tier events. Majors are not included in the exemption, thus pros can't play Am Worlds or USADGC.

 

[WhiteyBear]

Fair enough.

Still think there is a significant flaw there though.

 

[1978]

All depends on your rating. You could be a Pro Worlds champion and still play (and win) in the AM Worlds championship as well. Which is a HUGE flaw in the system.

Why? This will never happen..
Its like saying that the 110 lb weight womens boxing champion could also win the 250lb mens belt. It just wont happen and if it did and the am stayed am...the local disc golf community/merch sponsor of that Pro Worlds would get like $2000 back in merch profits which would help them. I pray! that only AMs win every pro event and take merch... Then there will be more money left local to GROW the sport.

Edit: Guess it depends. If Paul M sandbagged for an entire year and got his rating down to 969 then maybe it would be an issue. If who ever blah winner of this year's AM worlds plays in the Pro worlds...you will find him back in 100th place. But again scenario 1 wont happen and can't anyway according to the rules. Only way it works is if the Am plays in the pro event...which happens in many sports across the country. I ran XC in college and had to turn down road race payouts to keep my college eligibility. Didnt mean I couldnt run in the events, I just had to turn down cash. Its like this all through out the sporting world. Am's playing pro. Golf does it too.

 

[1978]

Yea. The reclassification thing was jokingly asked... unless it worked.

I don't think that my rating will be over 970 anytime in the following year, so basically I can play all of the am events, except the two that I would really like to go back to. :wall:

Just register for the wait list the day open registration goes online, I bet you make it in. Id like to play Pittsburgh next year but would much rather play US Ams. I am addicted to Mark's rambling at the players meeting.

 

[JC17393]

Why? This will never happen..

It has happened. Pete May won Am Worlds in 2011, Pro Worlds in 2012, and Am Worlds in 2013. Of course he did it in the Legends division which only seems to exist at Worlds so never gets a whole lot of attention. I don't think the world stopped spinning nor did the sport come crashing to a halt because of it. It's just not a worthwhile issue to worry about.

 

[WhiteyBear]

Why? This will never happen..

It has already happened, and in the last 2-4 years.

 

[WhiteyBear]

It has happened. Pete May won Am Worlds in 2011, Pro Worlds in 2012, and Am Worlds in 2013. Of course he did it in the Legends division which only seems to exist at Worlds so never gets a whole lot of attention. I don't think the world stopped spinning nor did the sport come crashing to a halt because of it. It's just not a worthwhile issue to worry about.

Unless, of course, you are in the Legends division and get smoked by the Pro World champion by about 80 strokes.

 

[biscoe]

pro world champ still able to play am championships- soooo ridiculous.

 

[Cgkdisc]

pro world champ still able to play am championships- soooo ridiculous.

Not sure that's what they said about Bobby Jones when he was doing that.