Poker player Doesn't Accept Hand Dealt by USGA

Dusty Schmidt just wants to compete as an amateur golfer. The USGA maintains that the player gave up his amateur status when he threw down a $1 million challenge to anyone who could beat him at 72 holes of golf and at poker.

Now it's up to a judge to decide.

Schmidt has filed a complaint seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him to keep his amateur status with the USGA and play in a series of events in the Pacific Northwest. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland.

While Schmidt portrays himself as an innocent victim who simply wants to compete in the sport he loves, the USGA claims in court documents that he is a self-promoter who flouted the rules for amateur status with his golf-and-poker challenge.

"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," he said. "I just want to play golf, and I believe I should be allowed to play golf."

Schmidt was a promising young golfer in Southern California who turned pro after a year at UC Irvine. His career ended, stunningly, when he had a heart attack at age 23.