Bobby Flay may be one of Food Network’s fiercest competitors, but when it comes to golf, there’s one friend he can always count on to keep things light—Colin Jost.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE during the opening day of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in South Lake Tahoe, California, Flay opened up about his longtime friendship with the Saturday Night Live star and explained why he’s always excited to share the course with him.

“We’re pretty close,” Flay said, noting that the pair have played golf together many times over the years.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him,” Flay shared. “At least I know that if I’m playing golf with Colin, it’s going to be fun.”

The celebrity chef admitted that Jost’s trademark sense of humor is especially welcome during one of the most intense events on his calendar.

“People think we’re just out here having fun. We are—but we’re also trying to shoot a good score,” Flay explained. “The level of competition is very, very high.”

In fact, Flay described the annual tournament as the most nerve-racking event he participates in all year.

“This is the most stressful thing we do all year,” he said. “You can ask anybody out here—we’re all trying our hardest to make par.”

Despite spending decades thriving in high-pressure restaurant kitchens and cooking competitions like Beat Bobby Flay, Flay joked that facing elite athletes on the golf course is an entirely different challenge.

“Look, I’m a chef. I cook for a living,” he said. “I’m competing against world-class athletes everywhere, so it’s not easy.”

The American Century Championship has become one of the premier celebrity golf tournaments in the United States, raising more than $8 million over the years for the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and local Lake Tahoe charities. This year’s field includes stars such as Stephen Curry, Jason Kelce, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Charles Barkley, Baker Mayfield, and Kyle Juszczyk.

Asked who he believes has the best chance to win the tournament, Flay didn’t hesitate.

“I think Steph Curry is going to try to win this tournament,” he predicted.

Flay and Jost’s friendship has been visible to fans before. In 2022, the comedian appeared as a guest judge on Beat Bobby Flay alongside celebrity chef Carla Hall. The episode featured plenty of playful banter, with Jost joking that he wanted to “tackle” Flay backstage, while Flay teased Jost about being married to actress Scarlett Johansson.

“When you say you’re married to Scarlett Johansson, it just doesn’t sound believable,” Flay joked during the episode.

Behind the laughs, however, Flay made it clear he genuinely values the friendship.

“He’s great,” the Food Network star said simply.

For Flay, the pressure of competing may never disappear, but having Colin Jost nearby guarantees one thing: no matter how stressful the tournament becomes, there will always be plenty of laughs along the way.