Good Reads...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jeff Francoeur has learned to temper the ferocity with which he swings a baseball bat. But with a driver in his hands and golf megastar Tiger Woods nearby, the young player reverted to swinging for the fences.

He tried to outdrive Woods on the golf course.

"Francoeur had trouble — he just could not calm down," Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz said, smiling as he described the 18-hole round that he and teammates Tom Glavine and Francoeur played with Smoltz's pal Woods on Monday at Isleworth Country Club, the PGA star's home course.

"I was a little too fired up," said Francoeur, who added 17 pounds of muscle during the winter, and just might have been trying to show Woods what he could do with his additional strength.

He tried to hit longer drives than the world's top golfer, at least for the early part of the round.

"I did [try to] for the first three holes," Francoeur said, laughing. "Until I realized I sucked and couldn't do it."

It's become an annual rite of spring for Smoltz and a couple of Braves he brings along for the round with Woods. Francoeur has been part of the group for two years in a row.

Smoltz is a scratch golfer who has talked about playing professionally after he retires from baseball.

Francoeur is also a strong golfer, with emphasis on strong. He wins long-drive competitions at Braves events, and Smoltz said the young right fielder routinely hits drives of up to 320 yards.

"He can flat-out crush it," Smoltz said. "But he doesn't have nearly the control that Tiger has over where it's going."

Smoltz said he and Glavine both played well Monday, though obviously not as well as their host.

"I had three birdies," Smoltz said. "I think [Woods] had eight birdies." He smiled and added, "Actually, I know he had eight birdies."

Smoltz said Glavine had what is a typical day on the course for his left-handed friend.

"Glav's not fazed by it," Smoltz said of playing with Woods, which Glavine had done at least once before. "Glav's going to hit his shots, complain about some, be typical Glav."

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- If he's ever able to realize his goal of beating Tiger Woods during a round of golf, John Smoltz might not stop talking for at least a month. It remains to be seen what Woods does with the bragging rights he gained while getting an alleged base hit against Smoltz on Wednesday morning back at Orlando's Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.

During his three-inning simulated outing on a back field, Smoltz pitched to a group of hitters that included Chipper Jones, Jeff Francoeur, Tim Hudson and Woods.

Woods struck out in his first two at-bats and arguably drew a walk after working a 3-2 count in his third plate appearance. Then Smoltz decided to provide his friend a 70 mph gift, which was directed back up the middle toward center field.

According to Braves media relations director Brad Hainje, the majority ruled Woods' dribbler through the barren infield a hit. During simulated games, the only position player on the field is the catcher.

Woods and Smoltz have been friends for nearly 10 years and routinely play golf together during Spring Training. Francoeur and Tom Glavine joined them for a round at Isleworth Country Club, Woods' home course, on Monday.

Mark Bowman is a report