Adam Thielan leads, Jason Kelce averted final place and Charles Barkley is within the purple after one spherical of the American Century Championship.
Wait, again as much as that final half …
Sure, for the primary time in match historical past, Barkley earned factors for a full spherical within the modified-Stableford scoring format. Regardless of struggling down the stretch, the NBA Corridor of Famer completed at plus-3.
Barkley, lengthy derided for his unaesthetic swing, has, with the assistance of famous teacher Stan Utley, ridded his hitch. The outcomes have been on show Friday at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Not like normal stroke-play scoring, modified-Stableford employs a factors system: 10 for an albatross; 8 for a hole-in-one; 5 for an eagle; 3 for a birdie; 1 for a par; 0 for a bogey; minus-2 for double bogey or worse.
With two birdies, six pars, three doubles and two bogeys over his first 13 holes Friday, Barkley had collected 6 factors. He made two doubles, two bogeys and a par coming dwelling to drop to three factors, nevertheless it was nonetheless ok for his first optimistic whole.
Two years in the past, Barkley guess $100,000 on himself – at 5-to-1 odds – to complete inside the highest 70 within the 88-player area. He tied for 76th. The next yr, he tied for 74th. Final yr, he was 81st out of 92.
Now, he’s tied for 48th.
Carolina Panthers large receiver Thielan leads the best way with 24 factors. He’s one level away from 2020 champ Mardy Fish.
Kelce, making his match debut after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles, is at minus-24. The long run Corridor of Famer had a birdie on the par-5 third, but additionally had 14 double bogeys (or worse).
He wasn’t final, nonetheless, as former MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez was alone in 90th place at minus-32.
Kelce’s brother, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis, stood at minus-2, tied for 62nd.
The second spherical of the occasion can be seen Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
