Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Riley Hamel

Steph Curry works with Butch Harmon, Klay Thompson watches Tiger Woods videos ahead of this week’s Match in Las Vegas

NBA greats Steph Curry and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors are taking on NFL legends Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs in the latest edition of The Match this Thursday at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

Mahomes teamed up with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen last time around, losing to Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Curry has also played in The Match series, losing alongside Peyton Manning to Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley.

Although those two may have some scar tissue, their teammates are making their Match debut.

Kelce claimed he’s around a 10 handicap when talking with the media Tuesday. As for Thompson, he’s somewhere in the double digits.

Curry, on the other hand, has serious game.

He’s played on the Korn Ferry Tour, has finished inside the top 10 in two of the last three American Century Championships at Lake Tahoe and has now sought advice from one of the best golf instructors in the world.

Lynch: The Match proves golf can be a fun product, without trading virtues for vulgarity

Butch Harmon has helped the likes of Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler, and has been dubbed more of a life coach than golf coach.

Curry is hoping to implement some of Harmon’s practices when he tees it up later this week.

“For me, it’s that fine balance of not getting information overload and having 800 swing thoughts in your head,” Curry said. “Up until last summer, I never got any teaching or coaching. You have to understand how to apply whatever information you’re learning on the course, which is a totally different experience. Just trying to keep things as simple as possible.

“Butch gave me one little swing thought that I’ll probably talk about on the telecast if I hit a good shot, give him a shout-out. Just trying to build a little of confidence but not overcomplicate just being an athlete out there.”

Thompson reiterated Curry’s point of not overcomplicating things, but he did admit he’s been doing some research on YouTube.

“I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube. Last night I watched Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy’s tutorial on scoring shots. I learned some things. I’ve just been trying to pick up tips from the pros.

“Haven’t watched any basketball the last few weeks, just all golf stuff. Lots of Tiger highlights, too.”

The Curry/Thompson vs. Mahomes/Kelce battle will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. It will be televised on TNT, truTV and HLN and streamed on Sling TV.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.