No golfer—pro, amateur, or reality TV star—has taken more heat on the course than Charles Barkley. But after decades of slices, shanks, and a swing that looked like it needed a reboot, it was Chuck who had the last laugh at Lake Tahoe.
Sure, he’s not anywhere near the top of the leaderboard at the American Century Championship, but his Friday score of 81 was his best in 30 years. That’s right—three decades of golf chaos and finally, a breakthrough. It was like watching a unicorn drain a putt. “It’s so crazy,” Barkley said. “Listen, man, I played one-handed here. I played left-handed here. But it just wasn’t working. Still, I kept coming back. I kept grinding.” You have to admire that level of stubborn optimism.
Surely, the Gods have a sense of humor!
And let’s give credit where it’s due—Barkley’s golf renaissance began when he teamed up with coach Stan Utley, who somehow tamed that legendary hitch in his swing. “Stan changed my golfing life,” Barkley said, practically glowing. “I’m not going to be great all the time, but I can get it around.” In golf terms, that’s basically poetry.
Charles Barkley Hole Out! @ACChampionship pic.twitter.com/EE68g0MW5Q
— Nick Conforti (@_NickConforti_) July 11, 2025
The highlight of his round? An absolutely ridiculous eagle hole-out from 88 yards on the par-4 second hole. One lucky fan even caught it on camera. Yes, that Charles Barkley. More spin than his jump shot in ‘93.
With 9 points in the Stableford scoring system, Barkley’s still far behind leader Joe Pavelski’s 23—but currently sitting at T-24, he’s on pace for his best finish yet. Forget the tournament, he’s crushing the Vegas over/under of 65.5th.
“Last year, I finally won money from my friends,” Barkley grinned. “This year, more of them are betting on me. I can’t let them down. I told them, I am getting better. Just not too fast.”
Keep swinging, Chuck. Even the haters are starting to root for you.
