Jon Rahm’s finale at Quail Hollow was agony by the numbers—5‑5‑6 on the “Green Mile” that cost him a major title. Yet it wasn’t the triple bogeys that stung most—it was swallowing defeat until a simple, off‑court reminder from Charles Barkley cut through the gut punch and reset Rahm’s world. Barkley, who jetted from a late‑night Inside the NBA wrap to tee off at 7 a.m. in Alabama with Nick Saban and Stewart Cink, has turned golf into a full‑blown obsession. So when a top pro cites “Sir Charles” as the best antidote to loss, the golf community sits up and takes notice.
The final round of the PGA Championship was a thrilling spectacle. Scottie Scheffler, despite nearly squandering a five-shot lead at Quail Hollow Club on Sunday afternoon in North Carolina, rallied impressively to secure a commanding victory at the year’s second major. Finishing at 11-under for the week, Scheffler claimed a decisive five-shot win over the field. This victory secured Scheffler’s inaugural PGA Championship and the Wanamaker Trophy. While the atmosphere buzzed with celebration for Scheffler, Jon Rahm candidly admitted he was still “trying to process things.”
Jon Rahm’s final round at Quail Hollow was a brutal test—he finished with a 5-5-6 on those infamous last three holes, the so-called Green Mile. Sure, those numbers explain some of the struggle, but they don’t soften how tough it was to swallow that loss. Beyond self‑recrimination, Rahm credited Barkley’s perspective for restoring perspective, as he told the Golf Channel. Sir Charles has a way of cutting through the drama, reminding everyone that “it’s just basketball,” and no matter how soul-crushing a loss feels, life goes on.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Golf – Men’s Round 2 – Le Golf National, Guyancourt, France – August 02, 2024. Jon Rahm of Spain in action. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
That mindset isn’t just talk for Barkley—it’s something he lived. Barkley’s Suns squandered a 2‑1 series lead in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals to Michael Jordan’s Bulls. “That was traumatic; I stayed up for like a day and a half. I just couldn’t sleep,” Barkley once said to the Basketball Network. But rather than letting that heartbreak define him, he bounced back in spectacular fashion, winning the NBA MVP award for that very season.
Rahm echoed that same spirit after his tough finish. “Am I embarrassed a little bit about how I finished today? Yeah. But I just need to get over it, get over myself. It’s not the end of the world,” he said. Those words, inspired by Barkley’s outlook, helped Rahm put things in perspective and keep pushing forward—proof that the greats, no matter the sport, know how to handle setbacks.
Charles Barkley’s obsession with golf
Charles Barkley’s love for golf is no secret. He’s been closely watching the PGA Championship, and when asked who he thinks will take the title at Quail Hollow, he didn’t hesitate: “My pick to win the PGA Championship is Rory McIlroy,” Barkley said. “I think he’s on a roll right now, and getting that Grand Slam took all the pressure off his back. His confidence is sky-high at the moment.” With Sir Charles backing him, McIlroy is definitely one to watch.
But while Barkley can spot greatness in others, his own golf journey hasn’t always been smooth. If you’ve ever seen Barkley’s golf swing in the past, you know it was far from smooth—awkward pauses and jerky moves made it more laughable than graceful. Barkley himself admitted, “The next thing I know, I got 10 voices in my head standing over a golf ball.” His performance suffered badly: “I went from breaking 80 to not being able to break 100.” Many would have given up, but not Barkley. Then in 2018, things started to change when he teamed up with coach Stan Utley. Utley didn’t mince words: “I don’t know how he got there, but it was bad… close to the worst swing I’ve worked with.” Yet, Utley saw something in Barkley worth fixing.
The turning point came with Utley’s simple advice: “Cast the club.” This helped Barkley lock his wrists and develop a smoother, more consistent rhythm. It wasn’t a miracle cure, but it made a big difference in both his swing and mindset. “It’s not perfect,” Utley said, “but his talent is so high that he can hit good shots with a bad swing.” Today, Barkley isn’t just getting by on the golf course—he’s thriving. Not bad for a guy who once caused more golfing headaches than cheers.
Charles Barkley’s obsession with golf and his sheer passion to improve despite a famously flawed swing perfectly complement Rahm’s journey at the PGA Championship. Barkley’s story is a reminder that passion doesn’t fade with age or failure—it evolves.
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