Sat Jul 12 19:30:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Charles Barkley Shocks the Golf World with Career-Best Round at Celebrity Tournament**

**LAKE TAHOE, NV -** In a stunning turn of events, Charles Barkley, the NBA Hall of Famer and beloved TNT analyst, has silenced the critics and turned heads at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. Barkley posted a career-best round of 81 at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort, placing him in a tie for 24th out of 90 players after the first day.

Barkley, known for his self-deprecating humor about his notoriously challenging golf game, displayed a vastly improved swing and even celebrated an eagle, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd. “The crowd was going crazy, man. It was unbelievable. It’s been a great day,” Barkley exclaimed during the Peacock live stream. “I thought I would play. I didn’t think I would play this well… I’m having so much fun. I’ve been working so hard on my game.”

Using the tournament’s modified Stableford scoring system, Barkley’s impressive performance puts him ahead of several professional athletes, including Josh Allen, Matthew Tkachuk, and Baker Mayfield. He expressed particular interest in outperforming Steph Curry, who is currently in third place. “I’m gunning for Steph Curry,” Barkley told Yahoo Sports after the match.

Barkley’s success is particularly remarkable given his history at the American Century Championship. He has consistently finished near the bottom of the leaderboard, even earning last place multiple times. His struggles were so well-known that he became a popular target for jokes and parodies, but he faced them with grace and humor. He enlisted Tiger Wood’s swing coach, Hank Haney, to help with his game and was even publicly mocked on Saturday Night Live. Despite the setbacks, Barkley remained dedicated to improving.

This year’s impressive performance is a testament to his dedication, patience, and love of the game, proving that even the most ridiculed swing can be transformed with hard work and perseverance. The tournament is led by San Jose Sharks legend Joe Pavelski, with Curry close behind. However, the real story may be Charles Barkley’s surprising and inspiring resurgence on the golf course.

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