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Now, the Baseball Hall of Famer is helping build THE PRO, an invitation-only professional golf tour created exclusively for former athletes. With approximately 80 players, a $500,000 purse at every tournament and stars from across baseball, football, basketball, hockey and beyond, Smoltz is turning the competitive void athletes experience after retirement into an ambitious new golf business.
Smoltz joins Jimmy Roberts to explain the work behind launching the tour, from making nearly 1,000 phone calls and securing investment to recruiting players, building a media strategy and working toward profitability. He also shares unforgettable golf stories involving Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Annika Sorenstam—and reveals why he once turned down millions and an offer involving Pine Valley to remain with Bobby Cox and the Atlanta Braves.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
-Why Smoltz believed THE PRO was a great idea that might never work
-The economics behind a $500,000 purse at every tournament
-How the tour recreates competition and community for retired athletes
-Smoltz’s plans to recruit names like Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and Michael Phelps
-Legendary rounds with Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Annika Sorenstam
-The leadership lessons Smoltz learned from Bobby Cox
Plus, Powering the Women’s Game, presented by Chevron, examines Versant’s $530 million acquisition of Full Swing and what it could mean for the launch of the new Women’s Team Golf League.
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