There’s a significant gap between Sir Charles on the hardwood and Chuck on the golf course. On the golf field, Charles Barkley is more famous for his meme-worthy swing than his skills. However, to his credit, he’s improved over time. But in hoops, Sir Charles is a Hall of Famer and gold medalist, most famous for not winning an NBA championship. But if you ask Chuck, he would rather win the Masters Tournament than lift the Larry O’Brien trophy. So if you need his opinion on the Masters Tournament, he is always ready.

The Masters is one of the four major golf championships, held annually at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. In a recent interview with Golf Digest, Barkley was asked about next year’s potential winner. Without hesitating, he boldly predicted, “Max Homa.”

Homa, who finished tied for third place in the 2024 Masters Tournament, has certainly been on a hot streak. At the Masters, he scored a solid −4, raking in $1,040,000, a career-first top-five finish in a major. 2024 was his fifth Masters appearance, and he’s been consistent, earning five top-25 finishes globally, including a T-8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

But Homa is no stranger to winning, with six PGA Tour wins, two Korn Ferry Tour victories, and a European Tour title. His amateur career is just as impressive, capped off by his NCAA Division I Individual Championship win and participation in the Walker Cup in 2013.

What really sets Max Homa apart for Barkley, though, is his personality. In May, Chuck raved about him on the Club Shay Shay podcast, saying, “In golf right now, my favorite player is probably Max Homa because he seems like a great kid and he tries, he doesn’t take himself that serious.” With everything Homa has achieved, he’s definitely a favorite for 2025—and Charles can’t wait for him and the Masters Tournament.

Charles Barkley has been a huge golf fan ever since retiring from the NBA back in 2000. Over the years, he’s transitioned from a casual player to a serious one, but what really surprised people was his admission on the Dan Patrick Show in 2021. When asked about his dream sports victory, Chuck said he’d rather win the Masters than the NBA Finals.

Charles Barkley ditches the NBA ring for Masters

“I’d take the Masters personally,” Barkley explained. “They give out the NBA championship every year. And I know they do the Masters every year, but nobody knows who won the championship five years ago in the NBA… I don’t even know how many living Masters champions there are. It can’t be more than 30.”

For Barkley, the allure of the Masters isn’t just about winning a prestigious tournament. What really stands out to him is the opportunity to be part of something exclusive—the Masters Champion’s Dinner. This event, which started in 1952, lets the previous year’s winner pick the dinner menu for the night.

“Can you imagine being at the Masters’ Dinner on Tuesday night with only guys who have won the Masters, and you get to pick out the menu,” Barkley said. “That would be one of the coolest things ever!” And he’s right—past dinners have featured dishes inspired by the backgrounds of champions. To Sir Charles, that might just be the ultimate bragging right.