Stephen A. Smith isn’t softening his stance — and this time, the spotlight is on golf.
During a recent SiriusXM segment, Smith made it clear that, in his view, professional golfers don’t qualify as athletes. The comments came during a broader conversation about how athletic greatness should be defined, but quickly turned into a sweeping dismissal of the sport.
And just like with NASCAR, he didn’t hesitate.
Stephen A. Smith Draws the Line on Golf
When the discussion turned toward golf, Smith’s reaction was immediate — and blunt.
“You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete,” Smith insisted. “Just because you gotta walk the course for 18 holes for four days, that don’t make you an athlete.”
For Smith, the distinction comes down to what he views as true physical demand — and golf, in his mind, doesn’t meet that threshold.
Skill vs. Athleticism Debate Takes Center Stage
Smith made it clear that his take isn’t about diminishing talent.
“They’re skilled players, they’re elite at what they do. But athletes? Athletes? Are you kidding me?” Smith continued. “Is walking the latest sport that you want to turn into an Olympic sport? Because I guess that would make them athletic, right? Because they can walk. If you’re out there doing stuff that grandmas and grandpas can do, I’m not gonna look at you that way. You’re skilled, you’re phenomenally skilled as a golfer…but that is not an athletic sport.”
It’s a definition that separates elite performance from what Smith considers true athleticism — placing golfers firmly on the outside.
What Golf Actually Demands
At the professional level, golf is far more physically demanding than it may appear on the surface.
Players walk miles over the course of a tournament, often in varying terrain and weather conditions, while maintaining focus across four rounds. Beyond endurance, the modern game requires strength, flexibility, and precision — particularly as players generate significant clubhead speed and power.
Training has also evolved dramatically. Today’s top golfers follow structured fitness programs designed to improve mobility, stability, and consistency, with many prioritizing strength and conditioning as part of their weekly routine.
It’s a different kind of athletic demand — but one that’s very real.
The Tiger Woods Factor
Any conversation about golfers and athleticism inevitably circles back to Tiger Woods.
Smith stopped short of completely closing the door, acknowledging that some golfers could be viewed differently — but not necessarily because of their success on the course.
His framing suggests that physical conditioning might qualify someone like Woods as an athlete, rather than the demands of golf itself — a distinction that’s likely to fuel even more debate.
A Debate That Isn’t Going Anywhere
Smith’s comments tap into a long-running argument in sports: what actually defines an athlete.
Is it endurance? Strength? Skill? Accessibility?
Golf has often sat in the middle of that conversation — respected for its difficulty, but occasionally questioned for its physical intensity compared to other sports.
Smith’s stance is clear. But within the game, the answer has long been different.
And as long as those definitions don’t align, this debate will keep resurfacing — especially when one of the loudest voices in sports media decides to weigh in.
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