Alex Ovechkin -- Rivals Charles Barkley ... With God Awful Golf Swing (VIDEO)

This is so bad it's good.

Washington Capitols superstar Alex Ovechkin whiffed TWICE while trying to tee off Thursday ... shocking, considering the guy swings a hockey stick for a living.

But you gotta watch the entire clip ... Alex eventually focuses and connects with a pretty solid shot -- and celebrates like he just won the Stanley Cup!

It's better than Charles Barkley ... but it's close.