Charles Barkley has insisted his golf game has gotten better. We’re about to find out as he teams with Phil Mickelson in a match against Steph Curry and Peyton Manning at Stone Canyon in Arizona.
The Match: Champions for Change will benefit historically Black colleges and universities.
We’ll have the entire match covered, going hole by hole to see if Barkley’s game can hold up with the cameras on.
Score: Barkley/Mickelson 3 up
No. 6: Par 3
With the heckling help of Barkley’s TNT teammates – Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith jumped on the broadcast to heckle Chuck — Curry and Manning finally had a chance to make up some ground. Shaq with the best one-liner as Barkley stalks his birdie putt: “If you can’t read words how you gonna read greens?” Still, even after Curry hits a perfect tee shot at the short par 3, they don’t take advantage. Manning lips out from 5 feet to stay 3 down.
Result: Hole tied.
No. 5: Par 4
Things are not going well for Manning and Curry. After Curry misses the green on the team’s approach to, Manning airmails a green-side bunker. Then Curry chunks the chip from behind the green. Making it even worse, they have to listen to Mickelson talk more about how well he and Barkley are executing their plan. “We’ve been winning holes so fast, we have to slow down,” Mickelson said.
@PhilMickelson definitely doing a great job coaching Charles up. Charles definitely been working on his golf game. #CapitalOnesTheMatch
— Jermaine Dye (@JermaineDye) November 27, 2020
Result: Barkley/Mickelson win with par.
No. 4: Par 4
Mickelson and Barkley came in with a strategy. (And Mickelson is not shy in talking his way through every decision and every shot and every scenario). But it’s working. Barkley with another iron into the fairway helps set up an easy par. Curry and Manning still shaky, and when Manning’s par putt misses on the low side, it’s another hole lost. Not only is Barkley playing well, but his black-pants, black-shirt wardrobe is drawing rave reviews from someone else known for that look.
Glad to see that Chuck has channeled his inner Black Knight with his all black attire today. Let’s go Chuck & Phil #TheMatch
— GARY PLAYER (@garyplayer) November 27, 2020
Result: Barkley/Mickelson win with par.
No. 3: Par 4
Mickelson with one of his patented “bombs” off the tee to give Barkley a look at eagle. The eagles missed, but Mickelson walks in the 5-footer for another birdie and another win.
This will be fun but 3 of these fellows are about to find out why Phil Mickelson has his name on his bag ! #TheMatch
— Kip Henley PGA looper ☮️ (@KipHenley) November 27, 2020
Result: Barkley/Mickelson win with birdie.
No. 2: Par 5
Another iron off the tee for Barkley, another good result.
Fairways Hit: 2 of 2. pic.twitter.com/ZDrTiG3xva
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 27, 2020
The solid tee ball gives Mickelson a go at the green in two. He gets it to the front edge, leaving Barkley with a 90-footer for eagle. He settles the lag putt 5 feet from the hole.
Peyton Manning might have just given Charles Barkley a new nickname: The Round Mound of Up and Down.
After Curry misses his birdie, Mickelson converts to even things back up.
Result: Barkley/Mickelson win with birdie.
No. 1: Par 4
Sure, Charles Barkley and Phil Mickelson lost the first hole after Barkley’s par putt slid by. But let’s focus on what matters most: There is no hitch in Charles Barkley’s swing.
Was that My Man Charles Wade Barkley hitting a draw into No. 1 Fairway?!?!?!
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) November 27, 2020
First swing of the day and Charles Barkley stripes an iron into the fairway. No, really, he did. “Going to be a long day for those two young fellas right there,” Barkley says as he drives to his ball.
Barkley said he has been working hard on his game. And he went all Tiger Woods with his first swing, not even watching the flight of his ball. Instead, he just immediately bent over to pick up his tee.
Result: Curry/Manning win with par.