John Smoltz talks American Century Championship after getting hit

Getting hit in the head might be the jolt John Smoltz needs to win this week at Edgewood Tahoe.

Year in and year out, Smoltz has been one of the top contenders in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, but he has never won at Edgewood.

But about three weeks ago, he was drilled in the forehead by an errant golf shot.

Smoltz, who played Major League Baseball for 21 seasons and is now a TV announcer for MLB, said it was the scariest trauma he has endured.

“I’ve never been hit, played a million rounds. I got hit right above the eye, 100 miles an hour. Had to go to the hospital,” Smoltz said Thursday at Edgewood. “I think what it did, it knocked out my brain of doubt. So maybe I have no more doubt. But I am very fortunate to be here. Honestly, I have been playing good as ever since I got hit in the head three weeks ago with a golf ball.”

He’s also fortunate the MLB All-Star game is next week, instead of the week before the celebrity golf tournament, as it usually is.

“Typically I fly in after the All-Star Game and try to put everything together. So I’ve been here this week, and it’s been enjoyable,” he said.