John Smoltz, a former MLB star, pursues full-time PGA Tour Champions membership
MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz Aiming for PGA Tour Champions Spot
Former MLB pitcher and eight-time All-Star, John Smoltz, is setting his sights on a new challenge – earning a spot on the PGA Tour Champions. The 56-year-old athlete will be competing in the qualifying tournament held at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona this week.
In order to secure his place among golf’s elite senior players, Smoltz needs to finish within the top five positions out of the 78-man field. Being successful would grant him his first ever Champions Tour card.
While Smoltz acknowledges that transitioning from baseball to professional golf won’t be easy, he remains optimistic about his chances. He humbly recognizes the difficulties that lie ahead but finds joy in attempting such a feat.
“I don’t live in a false reality,” said Smoltz during an interview with the PGA Tour. “This sport is really difficult. I’m not trying to think that this is something that I could do for a whole year or not … but it’s fun to attempt it.”
Last month, Smoltz performed well at the first stage of PGA Tour Champions Q-School held in Valrico, Florida. His strong showing earned him a spot in this week’s final stage tournament at TPC Scottsdale. In total, he finished tied for 14th with an impressive one-over par score of 289 – his best performance across four attempts at gaining entry into the prestigious tour.
This isn’t entirely uncharted territory for Smoltz as he has already participated in nine previous Champions Tour events. However, securing a Tour card would undoubtedly be a significant accomplishment in his already illustrious sporting career.
“To me, this has been an incredible journey, just to see where I can take my golf game,” expressed the determined Smoltz. The former MLB player represented teams such as the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals throughout his 22-year baseball tenure.
Smoltz’s qualifying attempt kicks off on Tuesday at TPC Scottsdale with a tee-off time of 10:52 a.m. local time (12:52 p.m. Eastern Time). He will compete across 72 holes in hopes of realizing his dream of joining the PGA Tour Champions.