Despite having a rocky start to his golfing journey, Charles Barkley was determined to improve his skills, and he worked hard for the same. Fast forward to today, he embarked on a 762-mile journey from his home in Scottsdale to scenic Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada. The NBA Hall of Famer and beloved ‘Inside the NBA’ analyst attended the 35th edition of the American Century Championship, promising lucrative prize money of $150,000. Joined by 80 other celebrities with the same goal, did he get the result he might have wanted? Not quite.

Irrespective of his improved swinging, Chuck’s hope of winning a portion of the bag was snubbed. Barkley finished the tournament in 58th place amidst the fierce competition and high stakes present at the event, far behind the winning score. The American Century Championship saw former tennis star Mardy Fish grab the title with 83 points, securing his prize of $150,000. NHL star Joe Pavelski and LPGA star Annika Sorenstam were runner-ups, securing $70,000 and $40,000 respectively.

The highlight of Barkley’s performance was a memorable tee shot on the 7th hole that resulted in a birdie. This swing gained a lot of attraction, and Isiah Thomas took to social media, to share his reaction. Despite starting strong, Barkley slipped from 48th to 58th in the end. This year Barkley had one of the worst final rounds on the final day of the tournament. He had a score of 17 over 91 and gained -4 points. Barkley scored on one birdie, six bogeys, and seven double bogeys or worse.

Previously, Barkley had sought golfing lessons from instructors like Hank Haney and tips from PGA Tour professionals including Darren Clarke. However, most recently, with instructor Stan Utley’s help, Barkley had worked hard to improve his swing. The 58th spot wasn’t expected, despite all the training. This brings us to the question if the results of his previous performances were any better.

A look back at Chuck’s golfing diaries

Charles Barkley’s involvement in the American Century Championship has been surprising. Having participated in the competition for nearly three decades, Chuck enjoys the chance of friendly banter and the attention of his fans. Chuck has consistently ranked in the lower segment, with 76th and 74th place. In 2023, Barkley finished 81st out of a 93-player field.

However, this year’s 58th place with minus four points is still a positive result for Barkley. Before this, Barkley had once touched on a positive result was 60th in 1995.

With this, Barkley’s dedication to the game remains evident, and with the help of Stan Utely, he is sure to make an appearance in the future tee-offs. Fans can look forward to his continued appearance as he eyes the prize money.

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