Ex-NBA guard Smith makes college golf debut
J.R. Smith spent 16 years as an elite athlete in the NBA, making millions and winning two world titles before sellout crowds.
But he had not been in this situation: lining up tee shots as a 36-year-old freshman walk-on playing his first golf tournament for North Carolina A&T at Elon’s Phoenix Invitational in Burlington, N.C.
“I was nervous,” said Smith, who shot 12-overpar 83 in the first round and 78 in the second round Monday. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”
It’s a college experience almost two decades delayed for Smith, who was slated to play basketball at North Carolina before jumping from the preps to the NBA to be a first-round pick in 2004.
“I was pretty pleased with him,” Aggies coach Richard Watkins said. “He made some mistakes, did some things you will do if you’re not used to competing. Just going out and playing recreational golf with your buddies is a whole lot different than competition.
“That first 18 was just to get his feet wet. Then he buckled down and I was really pleased with what he did that second 18, because education doesn’t come cheap. And I think he learned some lessons out there today.”
Smith said he wanted to be just another competitor at the tournament, though he understood the attention paid to his debut.
“More than anything, it’s just being able to go out there and compete as one of the guys, just another name, and get my (butt) kicked,” Smith said. “It was actually a very humbling feeling. Again, I’m ready to go to that range to work on it. I had fun, but I don’t like losing.”