Most people know Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz for his prowess on the mound, but the 59-year-old has also become quite the golfer.Smoltz qualified for the U.S.Senior Open in 2018 and is hoping to do so again this year.
He said his game is in the best place it has ever been and credited his health for where it is today."The game is in its best place.The goal is you always wish you could play tomorrow when the game is in its best place, but that's the beauty of golf.
You know, you got to have it when it counts," Smoltz told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMJohn Smoltz watches his shot from the eighth tee during the first round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Fla., on Jan.29, 2026.
(Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)"The game is at a point now at 59 where I trust some of the things that I can do because I'm physically more able with two new hips and some procedures done.I'm at a point where I know that if I can continue to get a little bit better around the green, I'm going to play the kind of golf I want to play."Smoltz will be competing in this year’s American Century Championship, which takes place July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe.
The Atlanta Braves legend has come close to winning, finishing in second place last year to NHL great Joe Pavelski, but has never won.The American Century Championship uses a Modified Stableford scoring system rather than traditional stroke play, which means that instead of counting total strokes, players are instead awarded points based on their score for each hole.An albatross is worth 10 points, a hole-in-one is worth eight points, an eagle is worth six points, a birdie is worth three points, a par is worth one point, a bogey is worth nothing and anything two over par or worse is worth minus two points.HALL OF FAMER JOE MAUER PRAISES MLB FOR THE ABS CHALLENGE SYSTEM, SAYS IT'S BEEN GOOD FOR TH...