Barkley Bottoms Out, Talks Tiger vs. Jordan in Lake Tahoe

Everyone who attended this past weekend's 20th anniversary American Century Championship, a star-studded golf event featuring athletes from every professional arena and a variety of actors, comedians and television hosts, and hoped that Charles Barkley would show up with a fluid golf swing consiting of one sweeping motion left disappointed.

Despite working under the watchful eye of Hank Haney, recently named one of the top five golf instructors in America by Golf Digest, Barkley's hiddeous hitch still haunts him, like a ghost lurking in his attic. 

After Tiger Woods missed the cut in the Open Championship at Turnberry, Barkley wound up as the only Haney pupil playing golf over the weekend, but he didn't fare any better than Woods. In fact, Barkley finished in a predictable position - dead last.

Using the Stableford scoring system, which awards points based on the score you record on each hole instead of simply counting strokes, Barkley wound up with a total of -97. The winner of the American Century Championship, Rick Rhoden, wound up with +74. Barkley nearly finished one spot out of the basement, but managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, sinking lower than first-time participant and former Ultimate Fighting Champion Chuck Liddel on the finall day of competition. Finishing 88th out of 88 particiants earns the Haney Project a failing grade.

This could be the beginning of a rough stretch for Haney. I've already read a few experts who're saying that Woods swing under Haney, with all of its moving parts, is actually making Tiger develop a head dip toward the ball during his downswing. Whispers saying that Butch Harmon's swing was a better fit for Tiger, especially during major championships, are getting louder.

But back to Sir Charles, who did manange to entertain and present himself in a good light last week in Lake Tahoe.

Ron Kroichick, who caddied for Barkley during the opening nine holes of an exhibition round Thursday, wrote in the pages of the San Francisco Chronicle:

"The man with the most infamous swing in golf doesn't take himself seriously. Barkley came here for the American Century Championship, the annual celebrity tournament starting today outside South Lake Tahoe, and spent Thursday's exhibition round spraying wayward shots, sharpening his comedy routine and providing lively entertainment for the many fans who showed up to see him."

Barkley again opened up his deep pockets for victims of the Lake Tahoe Angora fire. After donating $100,000 to the victims two years ago, Sir Charles decided to contribute another $90,000 to the cause in 2009. The 2007 fire destroyed more than 250 homes and torched more than 3,000 acres of land.

And never one to pass up an opportunity to express his opinion, Barkley also offered this gem in regard to the question of who has had a more impressive career, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods.

"I think Tiger is more impressive," Barkley said. "He has to play against 130 guys or more every week. He can't control what other people are doing. He can only do his thing. They're the two greatest athletes I've seen in my generation. For me, it's cool to have competed against Michael and watched Tiger in his prime."

I take Barkley's comments on this subject with a grain of salt. Of course the former NBA All-Star would side with the champion golfer, rather than one of his NBA peers. Basketball came easy to Barkley, he was physically imposing and one of the best rebounders in the history of the game. On the golf course, he has trouble completing his swing and getting the golf ball airborne.

Until Tiger passes Jack, I'll side with Jordan.

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