Former and current NBA players have been known to dabble in a different sport from time to time. One of them which prominently stands out above everything else is golf. This ‘gentlemen?s game’ has become a favorite pastime for many NBA stars who wish to take their minds off basketball for a moment. While golf was and continues to remain NBA icon Michael Jordan’s favorite pastime, two prominent figures who have embraced golf with enthusiasm are former Philadelphia 76ers legend Charles Barkley and current Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

Both Barkley and Curry have spent a considerable amount of time on the outdoor lush green, garnering the attention and admiration of NBA fans and enthusiasts. When talking about the better golfer, however, only one name will reign supreme. Without any further ado, let?s dive into the intriguing debate: who is the better golfer, Charles Barkley or Stephen Curry?

Charles Barkley’s swing has a notorious history

Charles Barkley is someone who allegedly shares a love-hate relationship with golf. Ever since he retired from the NBA 23 years ago, the Chuckster has been making an attempt to leave his mark by displaying his skills. From the start, however, there was one thing that kept holding him back.

Barkley became known for his atrocious golf swing, which prevented him from making a memorable impact during his games. His swing had become the subject of countless discussions, analyses, and even parodies. Barkley?s then-best friend, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, once took a dig at his swing during an interview with Jay Leno.

“The people don’t move. You know the funny thing, when the people saw him hit the shot and they knew it’s too long, none of them move. I thought that was the funniest thing ever since,” said Jordan during the interview.

Despite the criticism, Barkley has worked over the years to improve his skills. He has worked alongside renowned coaches like Hank Haney and Sean Utley, who have provided him with some valuable lessons and insights. The 1993 NBA MVP now feels like a completely different person in terms of his golf skills.

“Now when I go out, I can play. I can have a good time. I made a bunch of good shots. I made some bad shots. But man, when I’m standing over the ball, I’m not terrified like I was really for the last 20 years,? said Barkley during an interview.

Barkley often competes at the American Century Championship pro-am tournament. In 2021, he finished in the 77 position during the tournament, which was a drastic improvement from the previous years. While Barkley may not have had much success on the golf course, the same can?t be said for Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry continues to make waves in golf

Having been a golf enthusiast since the age of 10, Curry has worked well over the years and through his NBA days to make his mark in this gentlemen?s sport. Similar to Barkley, the 35-year-old has often participated in the American Century Championships alongside other renowned golfers. The 4x NBA champion feels that there are some similarities between basketball and golf.

?In both sports, when you find that flow, to be able to stay in that space for as long as you can and enjoy it, there?s no better feeling in either sport,? Curry once said during a press conference.

Mostly regarded as a 5-handicap golfer, Curry first made an impression back in 2017 during the Ellie Mae Classic Tournament. Despite missing the first cut, Curry was successful in securing a score of 4-over-74 during his two days of participation.

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2023 turned out to be the best year for Curry when referring to golf. Back in July, the NBA star created history by scoring a hole-in-one during the American Century Championship. His initial success propelled him to continue forward with the same amount of rigorous energy. This allowed him to clear all further steps with excellent results and make an astonishing 18-foot putt in order to secure the tournament trophy.

The enthusiasm that Curry has shown towards the sport over the years earned him the title of 2023 Golf Ambassador by the ?Champions Tour?. From the looks of it, his journey as an avid golfer will continue to bear more fruits with the passage of time.

Who reigns supreme?

While Barkley has made drastic improvements to his golf swing, Stephen Curry has progressed to a level that allows him to efficiently make a hole-in-one. The same tournament in which the 60-year-old came in the 77 position saw Curry breaching the Top 10, eventually ending in the 9 place. While Curry was successful in taking the American Century Championship trophy home this year, Barkley had to finish at the 81 place.

Another value that can be used to measure each individual?s success is their handicap level. It is a numerical value that is used to compare an individual golfer?s scores with his skills. A low handicap score is usually a sign of success. Curry made the claim earlier this year that his handicap level stands at ?+1?. The handicap level of Charles Barkley, on the other hand, has been placed at “10”.

While Stephen Curry reigns supreme in the overall comparison, one cannot help but praise the dedication that the 76ers legend has shown towards the game. He could have quit anytime when he got frustrated with his failures. Not willing to give up, Barkley continued on. He may not have the natural skill set possessed by Curry but the efforts he puts definitely speaks to his love for the sport.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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