The times of mocking Charles Barkley’s golf recreation look like really over.
The NBA Corridor of Famer and TNT broadcaster made his normal entry within the American Century Championship celeb golf event this week and posted one of the best spherical of his profession within the first spherical at Nevada’s Edgewood Tahoe Resort.
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“I am gunning for Steph Curry,” Barkley mentioned to Yahoo Sports activities after the match.
Taking part in alongside comedians Nate Bargatze and Larry the Cable Man, he shot an 81 for the day, with the 54-hole event’s modified Stableford scoring system inserting him in a tie for twenty fourth in a 90-player area. That efficiency included him holing out for an eagle, cheered on by a supportive crowd.
“The group was going loopy, man. It was unbelievable. It has been an incredible day,” Barkley advised the Peacock stream. “I believed I might play. I did not suppose I might play this properly … I am having a lot enjoyable. I have been working so onerous on my recreation.”
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Put one other means, Barkley was within the high third of a gaggle of people who included a number of skilled athletes, together with Josh Allen (tied for thirty first), Matthew Tkachuk (fortieth), Zach LaVine (59th), Baker Mayfield (seventy fifth) and Trevor Lawrence (86th). San Jose Sharks nice Joe Pavelski leads the sector after taking pictures a 70, with Curry proper behind him in third.
By comparability, Barkley completed in 58th place amongst 54-hole golfers within the 2024 event, 81st in 2023, 74th in 2022, 76th in 2021, 88th in 2019 and lifeless final in 2018. He additionally completed final in 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006. It’s a testomony to endurance and perseverance, to not point out love for a sport which requires each, {that a} man is wanting on the majority of the sector behind him in an occasion the place he has completed final that many occasions.
Many followers will bear in mind simply how dangerous this was once. In case you want a reminder, right here is one in all his higher swings from round 2010.
With the mom of all swing hitches — some would simply name it the yips — Barkley was so dangerous at golf that Tiger Woods’ swing coach Hank Haney was enlisted to assist him out. This man went on “Saturday Evening Reside” and allow them to mock his swing to his face.
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His swing steadily improved over time. He confirmed off a hitch-less swing in 2018 and even performed on the profitable workforce in an iteration of The Match in 2020 (with some assist from Phil Mickelson).
Barkley, whose “Contained in the NBA” will transition from TNT to ESPN subsequent season, all the time took his struggles with public good humor and even managed to discover a area of interest as a golf broadcaster to the purpose he had a suggestion to assist name LIV Golf occasions. And now, he is really posted a good spherical.
