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‘Best Amateur Golfer’: Tiger Woods’ High Praise Comes to Light After Witnessing Stunning Form

Tiger Woods has long been synonymous with golfing excellence, but even the 15-time major champion has found himself in awe of another athlete’s prowess on the course. Former MLB pitcher John Smoltz, now a standout amateur golfer, earned Woods’ rare endorsement as the ‘best amateur golfer in the world’ during their shared prime in the early 2000s.

According to former teammate Adam Wainwright, Woods made the remark after witnessing Smoltz’s dominant form, including back-to-back rounds of 66, 65, and 64 during a 2003 spring training match. Smoltz’s precision and consistency on the course have drawn comparisons to his MLB career, where his ability to ‘hit the glove’ with pitches translated seamlessly into golf’s demands for accuracy and focus.

Beyond his amateur accolades, Smoltz has competed in PGA Tour Champions events and qualified for the 2018 U.S. Senior Open, though he narrowly missed securing a full tour card in 2023 after finishing near the bottom of the final leaderboard at TPC Scottsdale.

Woods’ admiration for Smoltz isn’t new—he previously named the Hall of Famer alongside NFL legend Tony Romo as the best non-professional golfers he’s played with among professional athletes, highlighting their shared dominance in their respective sports during the 1990s and early 2000s.

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