While betting remains extremely popular among casual fans, there have been numerous examples of celebrities placing huge wagers with differing results.
Canadian rapper Drake often posts his bets on his social media channels and has endured contrasting fortunes. However, one star that was so confident in his golfing abilities to bet on himself at a recent event was former NBA star, Charles Barkley.
What Was the Bet?
Barkley made the wager ahead of the American Century Championship last year. He bet Aaron Rodgers that he could beat his score at the celebrity golf tournament. The event is held annually at Lake Tahoe, and Barkley has been a regular player throughout its history. It is a par 72 course, with those involved competing over a total distance of 6,865 yards.
Did Charles Barkley Win His Golf Bet?
Barkley has been a regular player at the American Century Championship. However, his chances of winning the wager always looked up for debate as Rodgers also competed at the event for the previous 18 years. Ultimately, it wasn’t to be for Barkley, as he eventually lost the wager to the NFL star.
The former NBA player finished 74th on the leaderboard with -26 points. It was effectively a non-bet, given the dominance that the Green Bay Packer enjoyed, as the quarterback finished in a lofty seventh position, finishing on 50 points. Despite finishing in 74th place, this was Barkley’s best-ever performance at the American Century Championship.
How Much Did Charles Barkley Stake?
Given it was a charity event, the amount won by Rodgers was donated to a charity of his choice. In total, the North Valley Community Foundation in the quarterback’s hometown of Chico, California, picked up the $25,000 stake. It remains to be seen whether the NBA star will be doubling down on his losses at the 2023 event.
Not Barkley’s First Betting Loss
Barkley has been a keen gambler throughout his life. This has been evident throughout the history of the American Century Championship. In the previous edition of the event before his best with Rodgers, the NBA star previously backed himself to win the competition to the tune of $100,000. The odds available priced him up as an 8/1 shot to finish in the top 70 of the celebrity event, and Barkley was only too happy to take that price.
His chances of winning the wager looked in grave danger heading into the final day, as he sat 77th on the leaderboard out of 89 golfers. However, he stated in interviews that he would be aggressive on the greens to try and break into the top 70. Unfortunately, that strategy didn’t pay off, as Barkley finished in a tie for 76. This was below other NBA stars such as Kyle Lowry and Vince Carter.
There isn’t long for Barkley to perfect his game before the next tournament. The 2023 American Century Championship gets underway on Wednesday, July 12.
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