Is professional golf at hand for Smoltz?

The Boston Red Sox have designated pitcher John Smoltz for assignment, which given his age, 42, and her earned run average, 8.33, most likely means that his Hall of Fame career is over. If so, is professional golf next for Smoltz?

In an interview with Golf Digest's Matt Ginella, Smoltz said this about playing professional golf: "I'm real serious. I want to do it. I want to see how far I can go. I want to make a cut on the PGA Tour, but in reality I want to play on the senior tour. I'm fighting age and time, but I'm not afraid of the challenge."

Smoltz plays to a plus-2 and has the benefit of a friendship with Tiger Woods, with whom he plays regularly and on whom he no doubt could lean for advice.

-- John Strege