Barkley again longest shot to win celeb tourney

Charles Barkley, slimmed down and fresh off the two best performances of his career at the American Century Championship, is not receiving much respect from oddsmakers at this week's event in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Barkley is 7,500-1 to win the annual celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, the longest odds of anyone in the field, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Barkley also had the longest odds last year at 7,500-1 at Caesars. Retired tennis player Mardy Fish, a two-time champion at the event, and hockey's Joe Pavelski, last year's winner, are co-favorites at 3-1. NBA star Stephen Curry, a previous champion, and baseball announcer John Smoltz are next at 7-2. Anthony Salleroli, lead golf trader for Caesars Sportsbooks, said Thursday that more bets had been placed on Curry to win the tournament than any other golfer. But the Golden State Warrior and 2023 celebrity golf tournament champion is not the sportsbook's biggest liability. That honor belongs to Barkley, whose 7,500-1 odds have attracted enough action to make him the worst-case scenario for Caesars Sportsbook, Salleroli said. Of course, it doesn't take much money to build up liability on a golfer when he has similar odds to UMass winning the college football national championship. Barkley finished a career-best 58th in 2024 and came in 69th last year. The over/under on where Barkley finishes this week is set at 63.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. Salleroli said the bulk of the bets were on Barkley finishing worse than 63rd. "Early action doesn't suggest many people have faith in 'Slim' to have a good showing across the next three days," Salleroli said. But some of Barkley's peers think he could surprise. "He's come so far," Smoltz told reporters ahead of the tournament. "I played with Charles 20 years ago. And where he is at now -- motivated, lost weight, looks great -- every year he's got a bar that he's trying to raise."