Former NFL cornerback Ronde Barber talks playing Augusta National with Peyton Manning

It doesn’t matter how rich or how famous you are, there are few things that can top having the opportunity to play Augusta National.

Just ask Ronde Barber. The former NFL cornerback for Tampa Bay had an experience that was particularly memorable, because he got to tee it up alongside Peyton Manning.

“Peyton took me to Augusta. It was pretty cool,” Barber told hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz on this week’s episode of Subpar. “I went to school with Peyton’s wife, Ashley. Graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce at UVA with us. I’ve know Peyton since he was 18 years old, maybe 19 years old.”

News

Barber said the group included Manning’s brother-in-law, who played at Virginia, and another quarterback from Virginia.

“This was four years ago, because it wasn’t my 20th, it was my 19th anniversary,” Barber continued. “[Manning] goes, ‘Hey, what are you doing on February 26th?’ I’m like, ‘Nothing. Why?’ My anniversary is on February 24th. He’s like, ‘Wanna do a wives’ trip to Augusta?’ I’m like, ‘Yes. Claudia, we’re no longer going on our anniversary trip. We’re going to Augusta. So that was it.”

Luckily, the ladies got to get some golf in too on Augusta National’s Par-3 Course.

“They just wanted to play nine holes,” Barber said. “I think they played the back nine. It was awesome. I’ve been there many times to watch the tournament, but to get on it, unreal. Special place, man.”

“Is it your favorite?” Knost asked.

“Yes, because, having never played it, you know every single hole, every single shot,” Barber said. “Not that I executed it at all, but it was pretty cool.”

For more from Barber, including his thoughts on Tom Brady’s retirement and what it was like to meet Michael Jordan, check out the full interview below.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

• Author Twitter Account
• Author Instagram Account