Charles Barkley in the first round of the 2024 American Century Championship.
getty photos
Jerry Rice, an NFL legend with enough golf talent to earn invitations to several Korn Ferry Tour events, probably didn't see it coming. Not so the Kelce brothers who have been around for a long time, also of pig skin fame; or golf-mad comedian Colin Jost; or single-digit handicappers like former NBA great Vince Carter, ESPN college hoops Sharpie Jay Bilas or actor Don Cheadle. But on Sunday evening at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, the unthinkable happened: Charles Barkley outlasted them all – along with 24 other competitors – to finish alone in 58th place in what is the top ranking of this celebrity golf event.
Fifty-eighth place may not sound like cause for celebration or recognition, but this is Sir Charles we're talking about, the same guy who has battled a debilitating yips swing you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Barkley slaying those demons with the help of whistleblower Stan Utley isn't news — if you've seen Barkley's moves in the last few years, you know they've improved — but until last week Barkley's refined mechanics didn't translate any better than a 69th-place finish in the American Century, and that was in 2020 when there were only 70 players on the field. In 2021, he finished 76th, in '22 he came in 74th and last year he was a lowly 81st. In other words, if you wanted to quickly identify how Barkley performed in this event, your best strategy was to start at the bottom of the board and scroll up.
But times (and skating) are changing. Barkley has been working on his game with the same commitment that helped make him an 11-time NBA All-Star. That he lives on a golf course (in Scottsdale, Ariz.) didn't hurt, and neither did his TNT broadcast. When the NBA season ends in June, Barkley leaves until early fall — free time he fills almost exclusively with golf.
He had a respected teacher by his side, too. When Barkley and Utley began working together in 2018, the coach described Barkley's aggressive swing as “close to the worst swing I've ever worked with.” Utley couldn't get Barkley to swing like Adam Scott but he successfully helped his student to take his mind off of the swirling thoughts and get him to focus on freeing the clubhead with the ball. Over time, the stiffness left Barkley swinging and more running returned to it.
“One thing you're going to have going for you — like, normal people don't have the same ability — is you've got good hands,” Utley told Barkley in an excellent video. Golf Digest video published earlier this year. “Even if it's not the intention, your hands understand.”
As it is, Barkley's hands automatically know how to bring the clubface to the ball – not all the time but enough times during the round to make Barkley dangerous again.
Barkley's start at Tahoe last week — a double-bogey 6 in the first — was not an indication that he would do well historically. But then he settled down quickly and made three straight pars, which in the Stableford format of the event was good for a combined three points (eagles = 6 points; birdies = 3; pars = 1; bogeys = 0; and double bogeys double or worse = – 2). Over the next five holes, Barkley made two doubles and a bogey but also two birdies to respond to a 41. After four pars on the back nine, Barkley posted a 12-over 84, his best score in the American Century. And the first: he was black, with +3 points.
Inside Charles Barkley's efforts to fix his flawed golf swing
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“It's the best I've ever played anywhere,” he cried after his round. “I played really well. I was really confident.” Barkley was quick to praise his caddy (“he gave me a good read”), the greens (“great shape”) and Utley (“made me play good golf”).
Backing up a career round is never easy, but on Saturday, Barkley nearly did it, racking up five more pars and a birdie to shoot an 87, which kept him at +3 overall. (For reference, Tony Romo, a three-time winner of the event, scored just 6 points and 2 points, respectively, in his first two rounds.) Sir Charles' breakthrough came in Sunday's final round when he made four pars and -a. birdie but also twice to shoot 91 and lose seven points. That dropped him to -4 points overall and in 58th place. It wasn't the finish Barkley was looking for but it was his best American Century result in 29 games.
“It feels really good. I spend a lot of time and effort,” he said afterwards. “I've been working hard for the last few years.” Despite struggling on Sunday, Barkley said the final round was “probably my best day because I didn't have anything good come early but I kept fighting. I'm very proud of today's round.”
What did Barkley say about his last round slide? He said Saturday night didn't help.
“I'm a little tired, a little bloated,” he said. “But I kept fighting.”
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