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Charles Barkley will play at next LIV event as he contemplates joining tour as broadcaster

By Chris Cwik

American Century Investments Celebrity NFT Launch At The ACC Golf Championship – Practice Round Day 2 STATELINE, NV - JULY 7: NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley watches his drive on the 15th hole during the second practice round at the ACC Golf Championship presented by American Century Investments on July 7, 2022 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by David Calvert/Getty Images for American Century Investments)

By Chris Cwik

It sounds like NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is seriously considering joining the LIV Golf tour as a broadcaster. After meeting with Greg Norman on Wednesday, Barkley confirmed he would play in the next LIV event, according to the New York Post.

The two reportedly had dinner together in Atlanta, per the Post. Norman was expected to pitch Barkley on joining the LIV Golf tour as a broadcaster during that meeting. Barkley confirmed as much Thursday, saying he would meet with Norman to discuss the role.

Barkley playing in the pro-am does not guarantee he will join the tour as a broadcaster, but it signals he has no qualms about being associated with the league. A number of big-name golf stars jumped from the PGA Tour to the LIV in recent weeks. LIV Golf which is backed by $2 billion in Saudi Arabian government funding, has shelled out massive amounts of money to draw talent. Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson are among the biggest names to join LIV Golf.

The league has faced criticism due to Saudi Arabia's awful record of human rights abuses. Golfers who jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf have been banned from PGA events. Some golfers have lost sponsorships over the decision to join LIV Golf. Those consequences are offset by the money the LIV can offer. Mickelson reportedly signed a deal around $200 million to join the tour.

Will Charles Barkley join LIV Golf as a broadcaster?

Barkley should also be in for a massive payday if he decides to join LIV Golf. Barkley reportedly has a three-year, $30 million contract with TNT, according to the Post. LIV Golf could probably blow that offer out of the water.

If it does, Barkley will have to make the same decision as many of the golfers who jumped to LIV golf: How much money is enough to deal with the backlash? If Barkley accepts the offer, TNT will also have a decision to make: Can Barkley remain on the network while inviting controversy due to his role with LIV Golf?

Barkley has proven over his career that he doesn't really care about backlash. His willingness to play in the pro-am is yet another example of that. If he decides to make it official and join LIV Golf as a broadcaster, he's probably already prepared for what comes next.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sports at https://sports.yahoo.com/charles-barkley-will-play-at-next-liv-event-as-he-contemplates-joining-tour-as-broadcaster-172549614.html

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