Kansas City Chiefs

Alex Smith's Pro-Am nerves trumped those he's felt on football field

Published Feb. 15, 2016 10:08 a.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Alex Smith has played in some fairly important games over the course of his career. He's started five playoff games and performed reasonably well in each of them, having just one postseason interception to his 11 touchdowns.

Yet, no matter how nerve racking any of those snaps were, none of them were as gut wrenching as his first shot at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this past weekend.

Smith was in the field this year, paired up with PGA Tour player Ben Martin. And while on the course, Smith told Martin he's never been as nervous on a football field as he was on the first tee.

Via the Kansas City Star:

“Alex was saying that he was more nervous on the first tee than on any first snap of a football game,” Martin said. “But that [football] is what he does, so I guess that’s to be expected. A little more out of his comfort zone but he’s been great.”

Unfortunately, Smith and Martin didn't make the cut, finishing at 9-under through the first three rounds. That's not to say it was a disappointing week, though. Along with Martin, Smith was in a group with Steve Young and former No. 1-ranked golfer Luke Donald.

“Alex and I are great friends and that was another good part of the week was extending our friendship a lot these last three days,” Young said. “These are the kinds of things that build relationships so it was really fun for me to be with Alex.”

Given his history of playing in the event -- and caddying as he did for Jim Harbaugh in 2012 -- Smith will likely be back at Pebble Beach next year. Maybe then he'll be able to calm his nerves and make the cut.