Check out how Jimmer Fredette has been doing at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe this weekend. On Friday he golfed with Tim Tebow and Herm Edwards. On Saturday Fredette was paired with Charles Barkley.
The final round at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course will be held Sunday, July 17. Coverage of the round will be televised on NBC from 1 to 4 p.m. MT.
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Link to Fredette and Barkley video
News 10 in Sacramento Covers Fredette at the American Century
Five Questions with Jimmer Fredette
By Steve Yingling, For the Deseret News - Link
OK, he's human. Fredette earned several national player of the year awards and even an ESPY for his heroics during his senior basketball season at BYU, and was the 10th overall pick in the NBA draft. His basketball skills, however, did not translate to the golf course as he took 84th out of 85 players. Deseret News correspondent Steve Yingling caught up this week on the course.
Q: You said you haven't played golf much. How many times you've played in your life?
A: I've probably played 10 to 15 times in my whole life so don't expect much. I'll hit some decent shots; I just can't drive it straight.
Q: For the few times you have been out to play, what has pulled you into the sport?
A: It's fun to be out there with your friends. It's a relaxing sport. You get to go out and hang out with your friends and goof off. But it's better if you are a better golf player, because you can actually hit the shots, and it's not as frustrating. That's something I want to improve.
Q: When you golf with friends are you competitive with someone of similar ability?
A: I'm competitive. I'm just trying to get better. I'll definitely be competitive with the guy I'm playing against, but a lot of times that player is a little better than I am right now.
Q: What is really troubling you the most about the game?
A: I don't feel good with the driver in my hands. I always slice it. That's something I need to work on. It's all about technique, and you just can't go out there and think you are going to be an unbelievable golfer right away.
Q: Who do you want to play a celebrity round of golf with?
A: I think Ray Romano would be a fun guy to play with just because I think he would be funny, and I watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" all of the time. He seems like a really cool guy. And Michael Jordan would be really cool.
Barkley – Fredette wrapup
Courtesy American Century Championship
After two rounds of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Charles Barkley is six points better than Jimmer Fredette and may not finish last in the competition for the first time in years.
The pair played together today (Saturday) and entered the round tied for second to last with -30 points in the Modified Stableford scoring system which awards points for double eagles (10), eagles (6), birdies (3), pars (1), bogeys (0) and double bogeys (-2).
Today, Barkley shot a 100 – good for a -22 points – while Fredette carded a 104, ending up with a -28 for the day and -58 for the tournament with Sunday’s final round set for Sunday afternoon on NBC (check local listings (3-6 p.m. ET)) . Barkley stands at -52.
The difference was Barkley delivering two pars through the 18 holes at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course while Fredette found himself with bogeys or double bogeys all day.
Barkley Finds Someone He Can Beat at American Century Championship.
Courtesy American Century Championship
South Shore, Lake Tahoe, Nev. – Golf instructor Hank Haney had his hands full on Saturday trying to help Charles Barkley and Jimmer Fredette at the same time during the second round of the American Century Championship. The two worst golfers in the celebrity field were paired together for their adventure at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, and Barkley was swinging at the ball with his eyes closed.
“I’m trying to trick myself,” admitted Barkley, who hit some wonderful tee shots with his eyes closed on the practice range before his round.
Barkley’s struggles with the game of golf have been well documented, and the pronounced hitch in his downswing is as imitated among recreational golfers as Tiger Woods’ fist pump. Barkley’s attempt to improve was the subject of Golf Channel’s “Hank Haney Project.”
Well, Haney may have another “project.” Barkley might just be better than Fredette, who struggled with his chip shots from 50 yards-and-in. Barkley has more trouble off the tee.
“It’s a dream come true to play with Charles,” said a smiling Fredette, the sharp-shooting BYU graduate who recently was acquired by the Sacramento Kings after being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. “I loved watching him play. He played so hard and had such determination
Fredette’s best hole on Saturday was a bogey on the par-3 12th. He stopped his 5-iron approach 10 feet above the hole, but three-putted to tie Barkley, who one-putted after a chip from across the cart path and through a stand of pine trees.
“You don’t have no short game like mine, so don’t be trying any of those shots,” Barkley heckled Fredette after leaving himself a 5-footer for bogey.
Two holes later Barkley lined up, closed his eyes, and launched his tee ball 310 yards to the right rough, leaving him just 90 yards to the green. It was good enough for his second of three bogeys on his first nine holes.
“It takes a special athlete to hit a golf ball with his eyes closed,” Barkley joked to his new friend Jimmer.