The best bets for The Match III: Champions for Change

We are in for a post-Thanksgiving treat this week with what could be the most entertaining 18 holes of golf we see all year. The Match III: Champions for Change is not only for a very worthwhile cause, raising money for HBCUs, but we get to see a fascinatingly competitive battle and plenty of trash talk.

Five-time Major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson will team up with NBA legend and 11-time All-Star Charles Barkley. Lefty and The Chuckster sounds like a brilliant crime-fighting cop duo from an 80s TV show, but will they make an effective golf partnership? There’s no doubting Mickelson’s ability but he will have to do a lot of the work here as what we’ve seen of Barkley is not pretty.

Facing Mickelson and Barkley are the star duo of Peyton Manning and Steph Curry. A five-time NFL MVP and the owner of two Super Bowl rings, Manning has the edge over Mickelson from their previous encounter. Manning teamed with Tiger to beat Mickelson and Tom Brady in the Match II. In this clash, Manning is teaming with six-time NBA All-Star Steph Curry. Curry is a keen golfer and plays off a handicap of five so will definitely be able to hold his own.

The clash of egos tees off on Friday, Nov. 27 at The Stone Canyon Club, and while not the usual four-day PGA spectacle, there are still plenty of opportunities to have a bet.

Moneyline

There’s no getting away from it, this is a hard one to pick. Manning and Curry are clearly very capable and could be swinging just as well as Mickelson currently. Then you’ve got Lefty’s partner and complete wildcard, Charles Barkley.

The format of the tournament is a modified alternative shot. So, both team members will tee off and then will take their partner’s ball for the second shot – so Mickelson goes to take a shot from where Barkley’s tee shot lands and vice versa. The team can then decide after the second shot which ball is better and play alternatively from there.

Can Mickelson dig Barkley out of trouble enough to win this thing? Can he keep them competitive while Manning and Curry presumably play quite consistently?

Manning and Curry are the favorites, but I cannot get away from the value on offer for Mickelson. A three-time green jacket winner, PGA Championship winner, Open Championship winner and so much more, playing against two golf amateurs? I’m siding with the underdogs and praying The Chuckster can get it together!

Pick: Mickelson and Barkley (+130)

---

To lead first

Despite not wanting to bet against Mickelson, one of the best prop bets is siding with Manning and Curry to lead first. Barkley’s errant driving and bizarre action are always going to hamper his team, and while I fancy Mickelson to get them out of trouble for the majority of the match, it’s hard to see Curry and Manning making the first mistake.

The second hole is a short par-5 with a green that is reachable in two shots providing a fantastic birdie opportunity and possibly even an eagle. Even at this early stage it could be first blow for Manning and Curry as Mickelson will be relying on Barkley to help reach the green with some solid iron play.

Pick: Manning and Curry (-230)

---

Hole 1 winner

The first hole on the course, The Petroglyph, is a gentle start to the course with a big fairway to aim at and then a simple iron shot to reach the green. There is a monster bunker to the right of the dance floor, but the green is large and offers a fantastic opportunity for all four players to settle into the contest.

This kind of hole shouldn’t do too much damage to Phil and Barkley. Mickelson will bomb it off the tee, allowing Barkley a straightforward iron shot with very little risk. Alternatively, Mickelson has one of the best short-games in the world, so if Barkley can keep his drive on the fairway, Mickelson could put them in a prime-birdie position.

With the straightforward nature of the opening hole I don’t expect any issues for Manning or Curry either, so expect them to head to the second tee all square.

Pick: Draw (+100)