The Rise and Fall of Barkley and Woods’ Friendship

Tiger Woods and Charles Barkley enjoyed a strong friendship, frequently speaking for over 15 years. However, their close bond was severed in 2009 when Woods faced a public scandal involving infidelity, which surfaced after a car crash. As Woods' life unraveled, he abruptly cut ties with Barkley, leaving the former NBA star bewildered.

Rumors suggested that Barkley, along with Michael Jordan, had been a bad influence on Woods, though Barkley denied any knowledge of Woods' private struggles. Reflecting on the fallout, Barkley expressed disappointment that Woods didn't communicate his reasons, saying he would have understood if Woods needed to distance himself to repair his marriage.

The two briefly reunited in 2018 when Woods appeared on Inside the NBA, where Barkley lightheartedly joked about Woods' receding hairline. Despite the moment, their friendship never returned to its former closeness.