Should Preston Stout Return to Oklahoma State or Turn Pro?

Preston Stout has almost nothing left to prove at the college level.

The Oklahoma State junior is now an NCAA individual champion, a multiple-time Big 12 champion, one of the top-ranked amateurs in the world and has already tested himself against professional competition. So now comes the biggest question of his golf career: Does he return to Stillwater for one more season or turn professional?

Stout not only won the individual Big 12 and NCAA titles, becoming the first Cowboy since Matthew Wolff in 2019 to claim the NCAA individual championship, but he also won five tournaments this season, the most by any golfer in Oklahoma State program history. He's already represented the United States on a Walker Cup team and has earned sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour events, including this year's CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the 2025 3M Open.

He's also competed on the Korn Ferry Tour at the Veritex Bank Championship and will tee it up in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills later this month thanks to his NCAA individual title. That's a significant amount of high-level experience for a player who hasn't even turned professional yet.

The argument for turning professional is just as compelling.

Stout's stock may never be higher. He's coming off an NCAA individual championship, sits among the top amateurs in the world and has already shown he can compete against professional fields. Every golfer's ultimate goal is to make it to the PGA Tour, and Stout has already checked many of the boxes that suggest he's ready for that next step. Another strong performance at the U.S. Open could only strengthen that case. There is also the reality that professional experience is the best teacher. At some point, every elite amateur has to make the jump and learn what life is like competing for a paycheck every week.

There could be a sour taste left in his mouth, though.

The Cowboys finished third in the NCAA team competition while attempting to defend last season's national championship. Even after winning the individual title, Stout made it clear his focus remained on helping Oklahoma State win another team crown.

There are also plenty of reasons to return.

By maintaining his amateur status, Stout would earn a spot in next year's Masters Tournament, giving him the opportunity to play at Augusta National, one of the most iconic venues in sports. For many golfers, competing in the Masters is a lifelong dream. Any golfer would kill for that opportunity.

Then there is the financial side of the decision. NIL opportunities have changed the decision-making process for elite amateur golfers. Auburn star Jackson Koivun is one of the most notable examples, choosing to remain in college despite already possessing the résumé of a future professional. Players no longer feel the same pressure to leave school at the first opportunity, and Stout could find himself weighing a similar decision. Another year in Stillwater would allow him to continue competing for championships while benefiting from opportunities that simply didn't exist for previous generations of college golfers.

There is also the opportunity to become the most decorated golfer in Oklahoma State history. He's already set the school record for wins in a season, so why not add more trophies and further cement his legacy?

Life on the PGA Tour is a grind. Another year in Stillwater, where Stout knows he can compete for championships, could be a more enjoyable path than immediately beginning the week-to-week battle of keeping a tour card.

What makes the decision so fascinating is that neither option feels wrong.

If Stout leaves, he'll begin chasing a lifelong dream with one of the strongest amateur résumés in the country. If he stays, he'll return as the face of one of college golf's premier programs and perhaps the favorite to repeat as NCAA individual champion. Either path offers opportunities that most golfers never get to experience.

If Stout leaves tomorrow, he'll be remembered as one of the greatest golfers in Oklahoma State history. If he returns, he has a chance to add another national title, another Big 12 championship and perhaps become the most accomplished player the program has ever produced.

That's not a bad decision to have.