Colt Knost is living his dream — and he still can’t believe it

Colt Knostsubpar driver and course reporter for CBS Sports, would be the first person to tell you he’s living the dream — and the last person to believe him.

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Scene: Calling from his car in Scottsdale, Ariz., after leaving the set of GOLF’s Subpar podcast.

Dylan Dethier: You’re on a break from your TV gig. Does it feel like your off-season?

Colt Knost: It’s definitely my off season. I’ve done a few things for work here and there. I still do our SiriusXM show (Gravy and the Sleeze) and GOLF’s ‘Subpar’. But for the most part, I can play a lot of golf this time of year.

DD: Are you playing at home with a regular band or are you now, as a guest of America?

CK: Yes, mostly at home in (Scottsdale’s) Whisper Rock. I played some guest members. I just got back from Vegas, playing at Southern Highlands, which was a blast. I travel so much during the year that it’s hard to say no to a guest member, but I also like being home. It’s the best time of year in Scottsdale.

DD: You’ve been a Tour pro for nearly a decade. How has your relationship with playing golf changed in recent years?

CK: I’m a lot more fun now. It’s not work for me anymore. I just go out and have fun with the guys, gamble a little and let the best man win. I definitely don’t get so upset about bad shots. And, when I practice, I feel like I can play as well as on Tour, maybe because I don’t care that much.

DD: Is there anything you’ve learned that you would have told yourself 10 years ago?

CK: Absolutely. I would tell myself to be more focused and responsible when things go wrong. But honestly, I think it was all meant to happen this way. The game has changed so much. I was never going to be a guy who drives the ball 300 yards like most of the PGA Tour does today. But I spent eight years on Tour, made great relationships and got to play at the highest level. When I get old, I can tell stories around the fire. This is very cool.

DD: These days, between SiriusXM, “Subpar” and working at CBS, it seems like you’re having almost non-stop surreal experiences. Still pinching yourself?

CK: I pinch myself all the time. I was a kid who went to a small high school in the middle of nowhere (in Texas). To be where I am now, to meet these athletes – it’s incredible. Golf has connected me to so many people. For example, I have a great relationship with Charles Barkley. If you had told me when I was 12 years old, when I was watching it on TV, that I would be friends with him and talk trash all the time, I would have thought you were crazy. Or I would meet Tony Romo when he was the third-string quarterback with Dallas because he just wanted to play golf, and then he turned into … Tony Romo. There will be moments with people I’ve met where I’m like, Wow, I can’t believe I’m sitting here having a beer with you right now.

DD: How is your work with CBS going?

CK: I like it, and I think it’s going well. I am excited to go to work every day. Sitting with Jim Nantz, Frank Nobilo, Trevor Immelman, Dottie Pepper, Mark Immelman, Amanda Balion – it’s crazy. When you think about golf and the world of broadcasting, there’s not a lot of work out there. And the fact that I’ve been able to improve and grow – it’s fantastic. The Nantz thing is still surreal to me; he’s been with CBS since 1985, the year I was born. I never knew anyone else in that job. Now he is a friend. This is so cool.

DD: In “Subpar” you sometimes show us another side of golfers and other athletes. Who has surprised you the most and who do you hear the most about from fans?

CK: The second part is easy: Mike Commodore, former NHL player. Everyone loves it. They love those old school guys (and their stories) wild. Guys like George Brett, Mark Grace. They lived in an age when there was no social media; they all didn’t take their camera off when things were happening, so they have great stories. In terms of surprises, I already know most of the guys personally, but it’s nice when the audience learns more about them. Scottie Scheffler, for example, comes across as this great golfer and person, but people don’t realize that he’s also ridiculously mean and talks trash.

DD: On the field, what is the tournament moment that stands out from this year?

CK: Walking with Viktor Hovland and Bryson DeChambeau on Sunday at the PGA – that place was rocking. Both were 6 under 17 holes, I believe, and the crowd was all for Bryson, and he was talking to them again, having a good time. It was just an electric atmosphere.

DD: Who are the players you think could create some of that electricity in 2025?

CK: I’ll give you one off the top of my head: Max Greyserman. He’s got a ton of upside — he breaks it, he’s a great shooter. He has finished second in three of the five events (in 2024). And I’m excited to see what Jordan Spieth does after wrist surgery. It’s something he’s been dealing with longer than I think he’s let on, so I’m excited to see him 100 percent healthy.

DD: People think of golf as a sleepy sport, but, personally on Sunday afternoons, I think they’d be shocked by the intensity. What’s it like to be in the ropes with the last group in the final round?

CK: I get excited. I feel the adrenaline and I want it to be a battle. Or, if I’m not with the last group, (I want) my son to make a move and make those big crowds scream. Hell, I get yelled at too. But when it’s a big moment, there’s nothing more cool than trying to make a great call on a shoot, because if you nail it, it’s every highlight. Honestly, when I look back, I don’t remember many phone calls. I’m going to review some because people always tell me, “Listen to yourself, see what your tendencies are and where you can do better.” And sometimes I’m like, That (call) was stupid. But I like to make it fun, man. Look, it’s a TV show; it doesn’t have to be serious at all times. I just hope to bring some energy to it every day and bring people off their couch in these moments.