Ever since Bing Crosby first brought his friends together for a golf extravaganza in the California desert, celebrity events have been a staple of the game.
Their purposes are many. They allow A-listers to cut loose in competition while raising money for good causes, and they give fans a rare close-up view of actors, athletes and entertainers they usually see only from afar. Spectators often leave star-struck. As it turns out, the celebrities are frequently impressed by one another, too.
On a recent episode of GOLF’s Subpar podcast, former MLS standout and current Apple TV soccer commentator Taylor Twellman shared stories from the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe and the participants who left the deepest impression on him.
First and foremost: Charles Barkley.
“Charles Barkley is an unbelievable individual,” Twellman said.
Without naming names, Twellman noted that some participants show only the slightest interest in the people around them. Barkley, by contrast, shares himself, looks you in the eye and makes you feel heard.
That’s especially rare, he added, for a figure of Barkley’s prominence.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit,” Twellman said.
Barkley was on-hand for a pre-tournament get together for the players. Not every star showed up. But Larry David did, giving Twellman a chance to see another side of the golf-obsessed Curb Your Enthusiasm creator, who made a point of circling the room and shaking everyone’s hand.
“He’ll never say this publicly, but I think he was excited but also very nervous,” Twellman said. Unlike some celebrity events, after all, the American Century is not a hit-and-giggle. “It’s a real tournament,” Twellman said. No handicaps. No gimmes. No modified tees.
If actor Michael Peña was rattled by that prospect, he didn’t show it. Twellman described him as another standout, present and approachable, stopping to sign every autograph.
Not all stars exert the same gravitational pull. Twellman recalled playing behind Jason and Travis Kelce in previous editions of the tournament and getting a firsthand look at the frenzy they inspired, with security guards surrounding the brothers and fans trailing them six people deep. This year, with Travis absent after his recent wedding, only Jason competed but still drew a crowd.
“I understated how popular that phenomenon is,” Twellman said.
Co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz know both tournament golf and celebrity golf well, and Barkley’s name prompted Knost to tell a Barkley story of his own. It’s worth hearing. You can check out the full episode of Subpar here.
