John Smoltz optimistic about American Century, explains why golf is more 'nerve-racking' than baseball

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John Smoltz will be in the field for the American Century Championship next month at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Club in Nevada, and he is looking to leave as the champion.

The Baseball Hall of Famer and FOX Sports MLB broadcaster finished fourth in the celebrity tournament in 2024 and tied for 12th in 2023. 

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John Smoltz hits a shot during the American Century Championship Golf Tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday. (Tom R. Smedes/Special to RGJ via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Smoltz explained to Fox News Digital in a recent interview he has "no excuses" this year for him not to at least be in contention to win the tournament. 

"I’ve been doing it now, I don't know, 13-14 years, I got two brand new hips, I training getting stronger and no longer losing 30 yards to all these young whippersnappers who just bomb it. So, there is no excuses for me not win at some point even though I am 58. I’ll be the oldest winner to ever win the American Century Championship. I am already proclaiming it, I’m not going to say it is this year but I will be the oldest winner at some point."

Smoltz suggested he would be even more sure of himself if he was able to "figure out how to put those greens."

"I finished second a couple times, I finished top 10 a lot, top five, but it comes down to you have to make birdies, and I just haven’t made enough birdies," he said. "If it came down to stroke play there is no doubt I would always be right there, but you still have to make birdies. So I’m working on some these things as we speak, I am doing all these interviews and Zooms from my