Golfers and baseball players have a lot more in common than the ball-and-stick nature of their respective sports. Their kinship is forged by the mental toughness it takes to throw 100 pitches at a target so small slow motion cameras often miss it, or grind over downhill 10-footers until a dozen in a row disappear in the hole. Players from both sports bond over making the near impossible – throwing a baseball at the velocity of a racecar or hitting a towering tee shot near the length of three football fields – look easy and effortless. They share an extreme and almost unnatural confidence, a firm belief that, despite the odds, they will hit the next pitch out of the park, or will hole the next bunker shot for birdie.

And most importantly, golfers and baseball players share a mutual respect for each other, an unspoken synthesis that can be seen whenever the two come together.

“Look, television never does justice to what you actually see in person,” said Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, who now works in the broadcast booth alongside Joe Buck for Fox Sports. Smoltz, who played 21 seasons in the Major League and was an 8-time All-Star, is currently calling the World Series. But he was not talking baseball when he made those comments. He was discussing his experience in the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions presented by IOA, where he played alongside the best female golfers in the world.

“I was fortunate enough last year to play in the final group (on Sunday at the Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.) and I can tell you that you have no idea how good these women are,” Smoltz said. “The shots they hit and what they can do, you just have to see it.”

Smoltz made these comments on Thursday in a conference call with reporters to discuss the 2020 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions where he will defend his title in the celebrity division. The former Atlanta Braves pitcher posted 149 total points in the stableford competition in 2019, carding his lowest competitive score, a 65, in the second round. But as well as he played, Smoltz was blown away by the quality of the professionals in the event.

“People who haven’t seen (the LPGA) up close can’t appreciate the quality,” he said.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester, who is in the running for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award, also played in the 2019 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions and is confirmed for the field again next year. He said, “Given the state of my game, I’m just trying to stay out of the way and watch and learn from (the LPGA pros’) game.”

Angela Stanford, winner of the 2018 Evian Championship, missed the 2019 Diamond Resorts event due to injury but can’t wait to play this year. The event includes LPGA tournament winners from the previous two seasons paired with celebrities in a unique duel-competition format.

“I was really (upset) at missing the event last year,” Stanford said. “So, (the 2020 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions) has been highlighted on my calendar all year. I can’t wait to get there.”

But before moving on to next season, Stanford (an avid Texas Rangers fan) has some baseball to watch.

“I’m a big fan of firsts,” the Fort Worth, Tex.-native said. “I love watching things that have never been done. So, I hope that, without naming names, that gives you some indication of who I’m rooting for (in the World Series) without getting me kicked out of my home state.”

“The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions is such a fun way to start our LPGA season," said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. "Our pros love playing with these celebrities and it's a great way for fans to see world-class competition from so many different athletes.”

The 2020 event will take place January 16–19 at the Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club near the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The Strong Bond Between Baseball and Golf

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