AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

July 13, 2024

John Smoltz

Edgewood Tahoe

Quick Quotes

Q. You had an up-and-down round but you finished with birdie on 18. Overall assess your round two today.

JOHN SMOLTZ: I was terrible. I was trying to get out of the way of two hot guys that were playing great golf. After 4, I was 1-under, feeling good, then missed a couple of two-foot putts that got me sideways and lost control of my game.

I battled. Tomorrow I'll probably throw up 25 points but it will be all for naught.

Q. You've played in a lot of these especially on the big stages, when you've got a couple of teammates that are playing hot, do you try to channel that energy and adrenaline?

JOHN SMOLTZ: That's the goal. We made three birdies on 3, three birdies on 4 and figured here we go. And then I never contributed anymore. I said on the first tee, we need to get 14 birdies between us. We got 15. We accomplished that goal. But today was a day where you had to make a move.

Mardy Fish and Pavelski are kind of running -- I mean, they're running hot. So those numbers are going to be insurmountable.

Q. You've played here for several years along with these guys. Talk about the overall experience and the crowds that were out here today.

JOHN SMOLTZ: It's always great. I wish I played better. Had a couple second-place finishes. I have such high expectations. For whatever reason, I don't putt these greens very well. But it's still a blast. The people that come out are phenomenal. And American Century, can't say anything, but they're the best.

Q. You talked earlier this week and then on the press conference about how the ball hit your eye. It's pretty much healed. Has that affected the golf swing?

JOHN SMOLTZ: No, the only thing, my hearing -- I'm in a can. And I don't want to get used to it, I don't want to think it's going to stay that way, so hopefully it will get better. Always trying to clear my ears.

But no, no, my swing was in tip-top shape before I got here. And trying to make shots, trying to swing free has not been the easiest thing in the last two days.