Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan used to be buddies with golf superstar Tiger Woods. As elite athletes who shared a love for golf, they established a bond that many thought would be for keeps.
However, after Woods’ 2009 car accident near his Florida home, which led to the unraveling of his personal life, he distanced himself from his friends, including Jordan and Barkley. Chuck did not bother to ask why.
Advertisement
After Tiger fired his longtime caddie in 2011, Charles said he was no longer interested in speaking to the golf legend again.
“It’s been very frustrating to watch everything that has transpired,” Barkley said in 2011 on ESPN New York 1050’s The Mike Lupica Show, “and getting rid of Steve Williams was probably the last straw for me.”
More than a caddie to Tiger
Williams had been Woods’ caddie since 2009 after he fired Mike “Fluff” Cowan after the 1999 Nissin Open at the Riviera. Tiger’s then-coach, Butch Harmon, approached Steve and asked if he could work with golf’s new star. Williams drove to Orlando to interview with Woods and was hired on the spot. The rest was history,
Advertisement
In their 12 years together, Woods won a total of 72 tournaments, including 13 majors. But more than their partnership on the golf course, they became close friends. Both got engaged while on safari after playing in the President’s Cup in South Africa and they attended each other’s weddings. Tiger also did Steve a favor in 2002 when he played in the New Zealand Open and even participated in a celebrity race in Williams’ home country.
However, just like Woods cut off Jordan and Barkley after the scandal, he did not talk to Williams for months after the incident, and he did not know why. They got back together when Tiger returned to golf, but many noticed that they lost their old vibe.
While playing the final round of the AT&T National in July 2011, Tiger told Steve he wanted to move in a different direction. Williams was stunned — Barkley saw that as a sign.
Advertisement
Chuck denied that he and MJ were a negative influence on Tiger
Aside from saying he was no longer interested in speaking with Tiger again, Chuck also denied the long-standing rumors that he and Mike were a negative influence on the younger golf star, and that it was they who corrupted him and led him to spiral into that crazy scandal.
Advertisement
“You think you’re friends with a guy. You talk to him once a week for 15 years. You’re like, this dude is my friend, we do things, we have fun together,” Barkley said. “I haven’t talked to him in two years, and I’m wondering what the hell is going on…It was interesting sitting back and listening and hearing me, and Michael corrupted him, yet we knew none of this stuff was going in.”
It’s unclear if Barkley and Woods have talked since then. However, eight years ago, he told “The Athletic” that he still hadn’t heard from Tiger and that, because the golf legend had cut off their communication, he would be the one to initiate a call. Knowing Charles, it won’t be a surprise if that’s how he still feels about his relationship with Tiger today.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.