Charles Barkley helped the 2026 American Century Championship deliver record ratings on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, and Peacock this past Sunday.
The ACC averaged 1.5 million viewers during the title-clinching round for former tennis star Mardy Fish. 86,038 spectators attended in person at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course over the three days of the tournament. The 1.5 million viewers for Sunday’s coverage (2:29-6:03 p.m. ET) on NBC and Peacock were up 49% from last year (1.0 million) and rank as the largest audience since 2004 (1.6 million viewers). Combined Saturday and Sunday coverage averaged 1.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, which was the best weekend viewership for the event since 2006 and up 44% from last year. This is the age of streaming, so those numbers are impressive.
Barkley's infamous over/under prop bet on his place in the final standings -- it was 63.5 this year, and Chuck finished in 69th place --was a big reason why so many tuned in. So was Fish and Joe Pavelski's two-man race on the final day. Fish won the tournament, holding off Pavelski, Annika Sorenstam, and Steph Curry with a score of 72. Fish received the crystal trophy, awarded annually to the tournament champion, and a new American Century Championship "lab coat," introduced this year in homage to American Century's investment in medical research. This was Fish's third ACC victory. He previously won in 2020 and 2024.
*The American Century Championship uses a modified Stableford scoring system that rewards points for eagles (6), birdies (3), and pars (1). Bogeys are worth 0 points, and double bogeys or worse are minus-2 points. Players pick up their ball once they reach double bogey.*
Throughout the tournament, Barkley made it clear he wanted those betting on him to win.
“I played well," Barkley said after the first day, when he was trending to win the people their money for backing him on the greens. "I’m having a blast. I want people to win that money. I think I’m a better player this year. I’m getting better at golf.”
Barkley continues to be better at golf. The hope is one day he could be playing meaningful golf in the ACC's final round. Whether or not that ever happens, though, Sir Charles will be a factor in this tournament's viewership totals as long as he's involved.
Charles Barkley had a better 2026 than 2025 at the ACC
Barkley finished in 69th place during the 2025 and 2026 iterations of the American Century Championship. This year was an improvement for Barkley over last year for a very specific reason, though.
In 2025, an errant Barkley shot led to a duck breaking its neck and eventually being put down. There were no tragedies on the golf course this past weekend. Certainly nothing nearly as upsetting or mentally scarring.
Barkley will be back in the field next year. Whether or not he helps the people betting on his prop is unclear.
What's clear as day is that plenty of people will tune in to see Barkley and the rest of the field regardless.
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