SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Nev. — The best start he’s ever had puts John Smoltz a step closer to realizing a goal he has long held, winning the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe.
Smoltz scored 25 points in Friday’s first round, which put him in a tie atop the leaderboard with Mike Modano.
Smoltz, the former Major League Baseball pitcher and Hall of Famer has always golfed well at Edgewood, but has never won.
He said getting out to a strong start was paramount this year.
Modano made a double-eagle on the par-5 No. 18, the first time that has been done in tournament history, for 10 points on the hole and 25 for the day.
Modano, who said he was about 200 yards out on his second shot on No. 18, was still in disbelief after his round.
“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. We were struggling between the 6 and 7. I was, like, I just want to try to ride the wind and just avoid Laimbeer’s Lake there and get on the putting surface,” Modano said. “It came off good. My eyesight is shot at 51. So I’m, like, I can’t see things halfway off the club. TJ (Oshie) went crazy. And some people over by the side went nuts. I was like, man, that may have went in. So pretty cool.”
HISTORY MADE! 🤯
Mike Modano shares the lead after the first ever double eagle at the @ACChampionship. @9modano // #ACCGolf pic.twitter.com/d0t4TijisZ
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 10, 2021
Two-time winner Jack Wagner also had a strong start, scoring 24…
