On Friday, instead of lacing up his basketball shoes, Steph Curry pulled out his golf clubs. Alongside Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player competed in “The Match III: Champions for Change.”
The duo of Manning and Curry squared off against five-time PGA Major winner Phil Mickelson and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Proceeds from the golf round benefitted Historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).
Despite playing the underdog role for the event, Mickelson and Barkley were able to put together a gritty performance against Curry and Manning. After Bogeying the first hole to fall behind, Mickelson and Barkley sunk back-to-back birdies to steal the lead. While Curry and Manning struggled with bogey golf, the tandem of Mickelson and Barkley pared four of the next five holes.
While Barkley’s hitched-up swing has become infamous, the NBA on TNT analyst played exceptionally well with the coaching of Mickelson on every hole at The Stone Canyon Club in Oro Valley, Arizona.
With a birdie on 15, Barkley and Mickelson were able to complete the upset victory, 4-3 in the alternate scoring format.
One of Curry’s best shots of the day came on the par-4 12th hole. The six-time All-Star nearly drilled a shot from the bunker, leaving it just inches from the hole.
Via @BleacherReport on Twitter:
This shot from @StephenCurry30 🤯
Watch #CapitalOnesTheMatch NOW on TNT and in the B/R app
(@CapitalOne) pic.twitter.com/xXk0XW9dY7
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 27, 2020
However, just two holes earlier, Curry smoked a drive that skipped into the water hazard on the 10th hole.
Via @br_betting on Twitter:
Of course the Splash Brother cashes the water hazard prop (+163) on Hole 10 😂
(odds via @DKSportsbook) pic.twitter.com/cJD9UcXqcg
— br_betting (@br_betting) November 27, 2020
Regardless of winners and losers, The Match III raised an incredible $5.455 million for HBCU programs.
Via @PGATOUR on Twitter:
Thanks to @StephenCurry30, Peyton Manning, @PhilMickelson and Charles Barkley, The Match: Champions for Charity raised $5.455 million for the advancement of HBCUs. pic.twitter.com/QrVgMgecAl
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 28, 2020
