Diamond Resort Tournament "A Celebration for Baseball Players?"

LPGA Tour 2020 Season Opener Field Domination, Smoltz Achieves 2 Consecutive Wins, Mulder Finishes Strong in 3rd Place

John Smoltz is embracing Park In-bee after playing together on the final day of the Diamond Resort Tournament. Smoltz achieved back-to-back victories in the tournament. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA = Photo by Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter Noo Rae Noh] "Is the field a celebration for baseball players?"

This is the story of the 2020 season opener of the U.S. Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, the Diamond Resort Tournament (total prize money $1.2 million). On the 20th (Korean time), at the Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (par 71, 6645 yards), baseball-origin players attracted attention. It is a unique tournament where players with winning experience over the past two years and celebrities compete in a 'pro-am' format. There were 26 players and 49 celebrities participating.

The players competed for the championship in a 72-hole stroke play, but the amateur division was conducted in a modified Stableford format. Points were awarded as follows: bogey 1 point, par 2 points, birdie 3 points, eagle 5 points, hole-in-one 8 points, and rankings were determined by the total score. The most notable figure was John Smoltz (USA). Demonstrating outstanding skill, he scored 150 points to achieve his second consecutive tournament victory. Especially on the final day, he played alongside Inbee Park (32) and Sei Young Kim (27), drawing a spotlight.

Smoltz is a star pitcher who led Atlanta's golden era in the 1990s alongside Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine (both USA). He amassed 213 wins in Major League Baseball. He was the 1992 National League Championship Series MVP, led in wins and strikeouts and won the Cy Young Award in 1996, and was the National League saves leader in 2002. He was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 and currently works as a commentator for Fox Sports in the U.S. With a handicap of 1.5, he is the top golfer among baseball players.

After retiring in 2010, he challenged the Web.com (second-tier) Tour and last year also participated in the Champions Tour. Smoltz said, "I feel good about winning" and "I have learned a lot about golf." Mark Mulder (USA), the 2001 American League wins leader, also showed formidable skills, proudly finishing 3rd (138 points). Among baseball players, Derek Lowe (USA) ranked 5th (130 points), Eric Gagne (Canada) 8th (126 points), and Josh Beckett (USA) tied for 15th (118 points), performing well.

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Roger Clemens, Tim Wakefield, David Wells, Josh Donaldson, Brian McCann, John Lester, Terry Francona, A.J. Pierzynski (all USA), and Ivan Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) also participated. The reason baseball players excel at golf is that there are many similarities. The swing principles are 'similar.' The backswing, weight transfer, downswing, impact, and follow-through are alike, allowing them to adapt faster than in any other sport.