“They should be kissing his a**!” Charles Barkley BLASTS PGA Tour players while rooting for LIV Golf’s Phil Mickelson citing the ongoing Masters

Charles Barkley is known for his outspoken and controversial opinions as an NBA legend and TNT analyst. He has been a vocal supporter of LIV Golf, the new Saudi-backed tour that has attracted some of the biggest names in golf, including Phil Mickelson. Barkley thinks that the PGA Tour players have been too critical and unappreciative of Mickelson and other LIV golfers, and he shared his thoughts on The Dan Patrick Show on Friday.

Barkley said that he was hoping for a LIV golfer to win the Masters, which is currently taking place at Augusta National. He praised Mickelson, who is a six-time major champion and one of the most beloved players in the sport, as someone who deserves more respect from his colleagues.

“I think the disrespect they’ve shown Phil Mickelson is ridiculous,” Barkley said. “They should be kissing his a**, to be honest with you because Phil has made those guys more money in the last year and a half…They should be thanking him.”

Barkley was referring to Mickelson’s historic win at the PGA Championship last year when he became the oldest major winner at age 50. Mickelson’s victory increased the ratings and interest in golf, which Barkley said benefited all PGA Tour players.

But instead of showing gratitude, Charles Barkley said that the PGA Tour players have been “crapping all over” Mickelson and other LIV golfers, who have been suspended by the PGA Tour for joining the rival league. Barkley said that he does not blame them for taking the money offered by the Saudis, who have been accused of human rights violations and involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

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Charles Barkley backs Mickelson’s decision to join LIV Golf

Charles Barkley is openly supporting Phil Mickelson and other players who have joined the contentious LIV Golf International Series, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Mickelson’s close friend Barkley stated he told the golfers to take the money and disregard the naysayers.

“Hey Dan, they left for another economic opportunity. I’m not mad at them,” Barkley said on The Dan Patrick Show. “Three or four of those guys called me and asked me my opinion. I said, ‘Yo man, let’s don’t get into this where our money come from.’ Because if everyone want to sit around and worry about where our money come from, nobody’s gonna be working. I told those guys, ‘Take that money. Screw those guys who are gonna bad mouth you.’”

Barkley echoed what Mickelson himself said earlier this week in London, where he is playing in the first event of the LIV Golf International Series. Mickelson said that he does not condone human rights violations, but he believes that LIV Golf will do a lot of good for the game of golf. “I’ve also seen the good that the game of golf has done throughout history, and I believe that LIV Golf is going to do a lot of good for the game as well,” Mickelson said. He later apologized for his comments on the Saudi-backed league

Charles Barkley also revealed that he advised Mickelson to come out of hiding and apologize publicly for his comments about the Saudis, which he did on Wednesday. “I told him he needs to let somebody see your face, apologize and then get on with your life,” Barkley said. “The people that are going to forgive you are going to forgive you and the people that ain’t going to forgive you, ain’t going to forgive you.”

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