Many considered Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry strong favorites in The Match 3, but those bettors didn’t account for one thing: Charles Barkley being a somewhat competent golfer.
Barkley shocked the world on the opening hole with a new and improved swing, getting rid of the infamous hitch that has plagued his game for years. He clearly benefited from playing alongside Phil Mickelson, who guided him through each hole and hit great shot after great shot to carry the team to victory. Mickelson clinched the win on Hole 15, sinking a par putt to halve the hole and secure a 4 and 3 match-play victory.
Not only was the event entertaining, but it also was for a great cause, raising money for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country.
Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from The Match: Champions for Change featuring Charles Barkley, Phil Mickelson, Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning. Follow for complete results from The Match 3.
The Match 3 live golf updates, highlights
(All times Eastern)
7 p.m. — Mickelson finally ends it with a par on Hole 15 to match Manning. (Mickelson/Barkley win 4 and 3).
6:33 p.m. — Neither Barkley nor Curry can make the putt for par and it’s a halve on Hole 13. (Mickelson/Barkley up 4)
6:20 p.m. — This time Curry and Manning get caught up in the desert and Mickelson and Barkley take advantage on Hole 12. (Mickelson/Barkley up 4)
6:05 p.m. — Curry and Manning get one back as Mickelson and Barkley struggle on Hole 11 and get stuck in the desert. (Mickelson/Barkley up 3)
5:48 p.m. — Mickelson and Barkley take another as Mickelson sinks a putt for par on the 10th. (Mickelson/Barkley up 4)
5:25 p.m. — We’re through nine holes. Neither Barkley nor Manning can birdie on the par 3, both Mickelson and Curry make par. (Mickelson/Barkley up 3 after 9)
5:10 p.m. — Barkley misses a three-footer for par and Curry’s par gives his team its first win since Hole 1. (Mickelson/Barkley up 3 after 8)
4:55 p.m. — Mickelson and Barkley win another on Hole 7 as Curry misses a bogey putt. (Mickelson/Barkley up 4)
4:21 p.m. — Lots of trash talk coming from Mickelson on Hole 5 as he sinks a par putt to win a fourth consecutive hole. (Mickelson/Barkley up 3)
4:05 p.m. — Barkley comes up just short on the birdie putt, but Manning pulls the par putt wide, so Barkley and Mickelson take a third straight hole. (Mickelson/Barkley up 2)
3:49 p.m. — Mickelson sinks another birdie and now he and Barkley have taken the lead. (Mickelson/Barkley up 1)
3:33 p.m. — Curry misses the birdie putt and Mickelson sinks his to tie it. (All square)
3:27 p.m. — Back-to-back fairways for Barkley and they’ll go with his tee shot this time. Mickelson sets up a potential two-putt birdie. Meanwhile, Manning’s drive and Curry’s second shot set up a near eagle by Manning as the ball just skips over the hole.
3:20 p.m. — Barkley misses a par putt from about six feet away and Manning capitalizes with a par putt to take the early lead. (Manning/Curry up 1)
3:08 p.m. — The Match 3 is finally underway. Mickelson had by the best drive, but Barkley looked surprisingly smooth as he hits the fairway. It looks like Mickelson has been working with him leading up to today.
3 p.m. — It looks like Barkley has revamped his swing. Could Manning and Curry be in trouble?
Charles Barkley and Phil Mickelson results
- Hole 1 (Par 4): Mickelson Bogey (loss, down 1)
- Hole 2 (Par 5): Mickelson Birdie (win, even)
- Hole 3 (Par 4): Mickelson Birdie (win, up 1)
- Hole 4 (Par 4): Mickelson Even (win, up 2)
- Hole 5 (Par 4): Mickelson Even (win, up 3)
- Hole 6 (Par 3): Mickelson Even (tie, up 3)
- Hole 7 (Par 5): Mickelson Even (win, up 4)
- Hole 8 (Par 4): Barkley Bogey (loss, up 3)
- Hole 9 (Par 3): Mickelson Even (tie, up 3)
- Hole 10 (Par 4): Mickelson Even (win, up 4)
- Hole 11 (Par 4): Barkley Triple Bogey (loss, up 3)
- Hole 12 (Par 4): Barkley Bogey (win, up 4)
- Hole 13 (Par 4): Mickelson Bogey (tie, up 4)
- Hole 14 (Par 4): Mickelson Even (tie, up 4)
- Hole 15 (Par 5): Mickelson Even (tie, up 4)
Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry results
- Hole 1 (Par 4): Manning Even (win, up 1)
- Hole 2 (Par 5): Manning Even (loss, even)
- Hole 3 (Par 4): Curry Even (loss, down 1)
- Hole 4 (Par 4): Curry Bogey (loss, down 2)
- Hole 5 (Par 4): Manning Bogey (loss, down 3)
- Hole 6 (Par 3): Curry Even (tie, down 3)
- Hole 7 (Par 5): Manning Double Bogey (loss, down 4)
- Hole 8 (Par 4): Curry Even (win, down 3)
- Hole 9 (Par 3): Curry Even (tie, down 3)
- Hole 10 (Par 4): Manning Bogey (loss, down 4)
- Hole 11 (Par 4): Manning Bogey (win, down 3)
- Hole 12 (Par 4): Curry Double Bogey (loss, down 4)
- Hole 13 (Par 4): Manning Bogey (tie, down 4)
- Hole 14 (Par 4): Manning Par (tie, down 4)
- Hole 15 (Par 5): Manning Par (tie, down 4)
What time does The Match 3 start?
- Date: Nov. 27
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: Watch TNT | B/R Live | B/R App
For those on the East Coast, you can tune in to TNT at 3 p.m. ET and hopefully immediately see golf action. The Match 3 is taking place in Arizona at Stone Canyon Golf Club, so that works out to 1 p.m. local time for the competitors.
If you’re looking for the pre-match show, that’s viewable on TNT beginning at 2 p.m. ET. That might be worth a watch, too, because it’s supposed to feature Eli Manning and Michelle Wie.
