Once, at the height of his powers, Tiger Woods took batting practice with Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz.
Smoltz, fresh from Tommy John surgery, had to pitch a mock game as part of his rehabilitation, and Woods wanted to face Smoltz in the batter’s box. At that point, Braves manager Bobby Cox demoted Smoltz to the bullpen, but the team wanted Smoltz back in the starting rotation, where he would spend most of his career.
Smoltz, the 1996 National League Cy Young Award winner, Woods was invited to join. During a mock game at Turner Field while the Atlanta Braves were on the road.
Brian McCann, then a young up-and-comer and future seven-time All-Star, caught Smoltz while Woods was wearing his cleats. The 15-time major champion also wore a Braves jersey to emphasize the simulation of a real game.
“So we set it up,” Smoltz recalled of this week’s Invitational Celebrity Classic.
“and [Woods] “Rule number one. Give me everything you have. Don’t hold back. And I said, ‘Tiger, here’s the deal.’ Don’t worry about hitting you.” However, I am concerned about my thumb getting caught when hitting the ball. If that happens, I might be away from golf for a while. “Well, he’s a great athlete and he competed there, but it’s like I thought he could compete in the Masters this past year. There’s no chance. “
At the end of his at-bat, Smoltz threw a few fastballs that Woods could hit.
“when [Woods] When he found out, he got really angry,” Smoltz added.
“But he declared himself 1-for-4 with a walk. So I let him roll with it.”
Smoltz spent most of the four years in the bullpen after Tommy John surgery, but set a National League record with 55 saves in 2002. He eventually returned to the starting rotation prior to the 2005 season.
Meanwhile, Woods won the Masters and the US Open in 2002, his seventh and eighth major titles respectively.
However, Woods had a difficult time dishing to Smoltz in the simulation game.
At least he got on base, he claims.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
