Augusta National It was Sunday. It was less than a month until the Masters.
Or, John Smoltz recounts it, just another round of golf with Tiger Woods.
He said, “I’ll fly to you down, we will play Augusta, and I’ll have your back by 3 o’clock.” “Can you do it?” I asked. Smoltz smiled and said, “I’ll fly you down, we’ll play Augusta, I’ll have your back by 3 o’clock.” “Long story short, it was allowed by my manager, and nobody knows. We get on our wheels and go to Augusta on Sunday, with every pin being the Sunday pin.
“I was late for the plane, so we didn’t hit practice balls. It was great to be out there. We reach the first tee. I pipe it down the middle, and he hits it in the bunker.
“I said, “This might be Tiger’s day,” and he responds, “Yeah! This could be your day.” I double-bogeyed the fairway middle, and he parred. He shot 66 and I shot 76. It was an amazing experience to witness a man tearing up a course like it was his own backyard.
“He cut it up.”
Smoltz, who has spent many hours on the course with Tiger, hasn’t played since the February 2021 car accident that left several injuries to his lower body, particularly his right leg.
Woods fought back, despite all odds. Woods won the PNC Championship in his first event that year. He would go on to play at three of the four majors in 2022, and once more at the PNC.
It’s hard to imagine how difficult it must have been for Woods to make it through, but Smoltz doesn’t surprise Woods.
“His motor is different from any other motor. It’s comparable to Michael Jordan. Smoltz stated that he has never seen anything similar in terms of a competitive drive or the ability to overcome and succeed. He’s done it all, he wants it all. I believe his body is paying a price for the insane amount of work he does and the insane things he used do. It’s hard to come back and reinvent yourself, however. I don’t know of any fair comparison.
“It would be like if Michael Jordan could not jump but still played basketball.
“That’s exactly what Tiger is doing in today’s world of golf. He fell so far from where he was to where it was he wanted to go again that I don’t believe many people ever gave him another chance to compete.
“I didn’t doubt Tiger, but I am amazed at the things he has done.”
Smoltz retired from Major League Baseball in June and has been a part of several major-name events. The 2018 Senior PGA Championship is his biggest.
Smoltz won the amateur title at the LPGA’s 2019 inaugural Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
He did it again 12 more months later.
Next month, he’ll be on the field when the top players from around the world descend upon Lake Nona in Orlando to play in the 2023 edition.
Smoltz will face off against fellow MLB-ers Derek Lowe (a 2022 TOC winner), Tim Wakefield and Jon Lester, among others.
Smoltz entered the week in ’19 believing that he could keep up the pace with the women.
He was wrong.
“I believed that I could compete score-wise and boy was I humiliated. Quick. “It’s been great to see these professionals do what they love,” Smoltz stated.
“I shouldn’t be but I am always amazed at how much control they have over their game.” They are in complete control of their game, no matter the wind direction, no matter the weather conditions, and when you add everything up, you’ll see that they’re six under.
He was able to spend part of the event last year with Jessica Korda, Annika Sorenstam and added to the list of stars Smoltz can play with over the years.
He has a special relationship with the greatest player to ever put a golf tee in the ground.
Last week, Tiger played with Charlie at the PNC.
Smoltz understands how important that was to him.
He said, “With all the changes that have occurred, this brings us back to what makes this game special.” It is possible to play it for hours, but it is much more enjoyable if you play it with your kids.
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