Smoltz puts versatility on line in pro golf event

John Smoltz isn't going to Valdosta just to play in a golf tournament; he wants to win it.

Smoltz, who won 213 games and saved 154 more in a likely Baseball Hall of Fame career spent mostly with the Braves, will join a long line of two-sport stars, including several with state ties, when he tees it up in the South Georgia Classic at the Kinderlou Forest Golf Club on Thursday. He will play on a sponsor's exemption.

"To steal a line from Freddie McGriff: I want to shock the world," he said. "I hope to play good enough to get to that point. That's what makes golf so unique. … You can have one bad inning and win. It's hard to do that in golf, you can't have that one big hiccup that knocks you out.

"I think along those lines. I'm not going to take every risk and play with no regard or feeling I have nothing to lose."

He's preparing like a pro. He played the course last week with his caddy, Chad Smith, who competed for Valdosta State. Smith shot 2 under, prompting Smoltz to joke that he wished Smith could come out of the bullpen for him during the tournament.

Smoltz, who hopes to play on the Champions Tour, recognizes his disadvantages in this week's event: Other than failing to qualify for the U.S. Open, he hasn't played a lot of tournament golf against pros. Although he's a long hitter and is considering bringing the longest-hitting driver he has, he still won't hit the ball as far as the other players.

He will likely travel to Valdosta on Tuesday morning and optimistically will pack enough clothes to last the rest of the week.

The key to his success: staying focused and ignoring the superficial noise around him.

A fast golfer, Smoltz said he wanted to reset his mind and slow things down during the tournament. He was able to do that when necessary during his baseball career.

Lastly, he needs to ignore those who wonder why he's doing this in the first place.

"I've got everything to lose; I'm not afraid of that," he said. "That's the beauty of what I've done in my career, transitions I've made, challenges I've faced."

Former Georgia standout Herschel Walker, who has succeeded in different sports and activities, admires Smoltz for what he's trying to do and is confident he will succeed.

"John knows what he's doing," Walker said. "He knows how to play a professional sport. He knows how to put his time in."

Georgia's two-sport stars

Former Braves pitcher John Smoltz isn't the only former pro athlete in Atlanta to try another sport:

Deion Sanders

He started as a cornerback for the Falcons, picked fifth in the NFL draft in 1989, and became an outfielder for the Yankees and Braves, playing for the latter from 1991-94, and was proficient in both sports. He once tried to play for two teams on the same day: the Falcons in Miami before flying to Pittsburgh hoping to participate in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series; however, he didn't get into the game with the Braves.

He went on to play for the 49ers and Cowboys in football, among others, and the Reds in baseball, among others.

He became so well known that he hosted Saturday Night Live.

He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year.

NFL: 14 years, 188 games, 492 tackles, 53 interceptions with 9 returned for TDs, 6 punt returns for TDs and 3 kick returns for TDs.

MLB: 9 years, 641 games, .263, 39 home runs, 168 RBIs, 186 stolen bases.

Brian Jordan

The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the first round of baseball's amateur draft in 1988. He signed with the Falcons after the Buffalo Bills selected him in the seventh round of the 1989 draft and cut him. He became an impact player in the NFL in three seasons, named as a Pro Bowl alternate in 1992. However, the Cardinals offered him $1.7 million to give up football. He said he loved football more, but signed with St. Louis because he said it was the smarter choice for his finances and his health.

The Braves later signed him to a $21.3-million deal, and he appeared in the ‘99 All-Star game. In 2002, the Braves packaged him in a trade to the Dodgers for Gary Sheffield. He signed with the Braves again in 2005 as a role player, retiring a year later. He does Braves pre-game telecasts for Fox Sports South and is the author of children's books.

An admirer of two-sport stars Sanders and Bo Jackson (MLB and NFL), Jordan said he's played golf against Smoltz and is not dumb enough to bet with him when they play.

"I'm a dreamer," he said. "I dreamed about playing two sports as a young kid and went out and did it. He [Smoltz] challenges himself. I think he will do well."

NFL: 3 years, 36 games, four sacks, five interceptions.

MLB: 15 years, 1,456 games, .282, 184 home runs, 821 RBIs, 119 stolen bases.

Herschel Walker

What hasn't Walker, a legend at Georgia and one of the greatest running backs in college history, not tried? In addition to standout NFL player, he's tried ballet, law enforcement, entrepreneurship, bobsledding and is undefeated (2-0) in mixed martial arts.

His favorite two-sport stars are Sanders, Bo Jackson and Jim Brown, who was an outstanding lacrosse player at Syracuse before a Hall of Fame career as a running back.

He said their single-mindedness is what made them successful and self-reliance is why he enjoys individual sports more than team sports.

"That's the reason I liked track; that's probably the reason I'm in the MMA world today," he said. "I'm responsible for my own destiny. If I don't come ready to compete, I'll get knocked out. It's my responsibility to be prepared. That's why I like doing what I do."

NFL: 13 years, 187 games, 1,954 carries, 8,225 yards, 61 touchdowns, 512 receptions, 4,859 yards, 21 touchdowns

USFL: 3 years, 54 games, 1,143 carries, 5,562 yards, 54 touchdowns, 130 receptions, 1,484 yards, 7 touchdowns

Bill Goldberg