7,500-1.
It’s a number that rarely appears up in lights at a sportsbook.
But, if you stroll into a Caesars sportsbook in Vegas this week, it’s there for the taking. And people are taking it.
These are the odds for Charles Barkley, world-famous bad golfer, to win the American Century Classic golf tournament in Lake Tahoe this week.
“People are actually taking him,” said Caesars sportsbook director Bill Sattler. “We’ve only written more tickets on Tony Romo and Mardy Fish. Of course, they’re probably doing it to keep it as a souvenir.”
The largest bet on Barkley at Caesars is $20.
Barkley has appeared in the tournament more than any player in the 30-year history. This year will mark his 24th. And the one constant? When the 54-hole tournament is done, he most often can be found in dead last, where he takes home a $1,000 prize.
“I look forward to coming to Tahoe every year,” Barkley said, in a statement. “It’s the first event I put on the schedule.”
The tournament uses Modified Stableford scoring, which awards six points for an eagle, three points for birdies, one for a par and minus two for a double bogey or worse.
Barkley usually finishes in between -90 and -100, which means that he typically finishes with a double bogey or worse on more than 85 percent of holes.
“I think Charles has gotten better over the years,” Sattler said.
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Last year, he finished in last with a -93, which equates to 100-over-par with standard scoring.
Those who have the unfortunate honor of playing worse than Barkley over the years? Dan Majerle in 1993 shot 14 strokes worse than Barkley and, in 1999, Jesse Ventura shot 28 strokes worse than Barkley, shooting the equivalent of 132-over-par for 54 holes.
Caesars has last year’s winner, Tony Romo, as the favorite at 5-2 to win. Former pitchers Mark Mulder (3-1) and John Smoltz (6-1) round out the top three.
Among other notables, Fish is 8-1 and Steph Curry is 15-1.
Here's the full odds sheet, via Caesars as of Wednesday afternoon:
