It’s the first question people ask if you’ve won a closest to the pin contest – did you make the birdie putt? This, of course, unfairly removes all context, like just how long was the birdie putt? Was it a downhill left-to-righter or a tap-in? Early in the round or late in the round? Not all birdie putts are created equal.

In Blake Griffin’s case during The Match: Superstars on Thursday night, his “short” birdie putt was about eight feet away, the closest of any shots on that hole. But it snapped hard right to left, not to mention the fact this knee-knocker of sorts was being televised to the masses. No amount of free throw shots in hostile college and NBA environments could possibly prepare you for the pressure of a birdie putt that’s being filmed.

Naturally, the six-time NBA All-Star, a 13-handicap, missed on the low side. Unfortunately for him, not only was Charles Barkley calling the action, but Griffin could hear Barkley talking directly to him in his AirPods.

“How do you win closest to the hole, and lose the hole?” Barkley asked.

“That is a good point,” Griffin deadpanned.

I mean, in fairness, that’s no gimme! Griffin’s partner, comedian Nate Bargatze, made it look like one, though, causing Griffin to dunk in Chuck’s face, Timofey Mozgov-style.

Griffin and Bargatze got their turn to chirp Chuck when the Round Mound of Rebound went out on the course and had to change his shirt due to over-sweating:

“I’ve never heard a shirt audibly sigh” is an all-timer from Griffin. That cut deep.

Main Image: Supplied