subject: John Smoltz And PGA Event [print this page] John Smoltz And PGA Event John Smoltz And PGA Event
Actually John Smoltz has been talking about playing pro golf since long before he ever retired from baseball.John Smoltz is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996.And now the talk of him comes true.
Smoltz has accepted an invitation to play in the Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic April 28-May 1 in Valdosta with his discount golf equipment."A guy contacted me last year about golfing and I told him I'd like to but I had to wait and see what my TV commitments were," said Smoltz, who is a color commentator on baseball broadcasts. "When the schedule came out, everything just fell easy to run. I understand the process. This is just something I want to try. I've said all along that I don't want to do this the wrong way. But I want to see where it's like. I'm preparing for it as much as I can."
He didn't have to qualify for a tournament taking TaylorMade R9 SuperTri Driver, thanks to the exemption. The Nationwide Tour is a legitimate circuit and sort of the Triple A for the PGA Tour. This will be the first time Smoltz competes in a PGA Tour event.
"I don't doubt that," he said, laughing. "The thought did come to me that this could quite embarrassing. I hope to make a good showing. "Smoltz, one of the Braves' all-time greatest pitchers and a likely Hall of Famer with 213 wins, 154 saves and a Cy Young, transitioned into broadcasting last year following retirement. He will play in at least five events this year, including Michael Jordan's celebrity weekend event for charity in Las Vegas in two weeks, and a two-man, best ball event in Scottsdale, Arizona in mid-April.
He has said on several occasions that he would like to compete one day on the Champions Tour and get golf news. He'll have to wait a little while. Smoltz is 44, and that tour's minimum age is 50. So this is sort of like spring training.
