The Match 3: Champions for Change is off and running, and the banter has been flying from both sides. As expected, Charles Barkley has heard plenty of chatter from his opponents, but thus far the Hall of Famer has gotten the last laugh.
Although Peyton Manning and Steph Curry are quite capable golfers, they’ve been no match for the team of Barkley and Phil Mickelson. Their hot play early on was so good that they built an early lead — so much so that Mickelson got extremely cocky with a concession on the 5th hole.
Manning and Curry made a bit of a mess of the hole and faced a chip for bogey with Barkley looking at a 20-footer for birdie. The smart play would be to make them hit the shot and put even more pressure on the opponent. Mickelson had no such plan.
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“What is that for — is that for 5?” Mickelson asked. “You want to just give that to them?”
Barkley then picked the ball up to put the opposition out of their misery. With the possibility of a 3-putt still in play, it was a bold — and cocky! — move. And it sent a message to Manning and Curry that Mickelson didn’t think they had a chance.
Barkley zipped his putt from the fringe some five feet past, but Mickelson curled in the comebacker. It was a reminder: There’s nothing worse than being pitied by your opponent.