The PGA Tour’s war with LIV Golf has escalated after they filed a federal civil lawsuit against the Saudis’ Public Investment Fund and Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
The publication report that court documents reveal a complaint was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan on 20 October.
It is reported that the PGA Tour’s attorneys have filed 50 exhibits along with a motion to compel [asking the court to make the opposing party take some action].
ESPN believe the PGA Tour are attempting to obtain a motion to compel a federal judge that would require Al-Rumayyan – who is also the chairman of Premier League football club Newcastle United and sits on the board of directors of Saudi Arabia’s vast wealth fund – to be deposed as part of another federal lawsuit in California involving the warring tours.
This news comes after the PGA Tour countersued LIV Golf on 29 September, accusing the controversial enterprise of “interfering” with player contracts.
It followed 11 players who had teed it up in LIV Golf events filing a federal antitrust lawsuit against the established, American tour.
Court documents accused the PGA Tour of using “its monopoly” powers to squash competition.
The chief plaintiff in that suit was Phil Mickelson, who joined LIV Golf for a reported $200m in June. The six-time major champion has since dropped out because LIV Golf added themselves to the suit.
Only three players remain of the original 11 who brought action. Those are Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Jones and Peter Uihlein.
The others who have backed out include Pat Perez, Abraham Ancer, Hudson Swafford, Ian Poulter, Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak and Carlos Ortiz.
The PGA Tour have suspended more than 30 players – including Mickelson – for competing in LIV Golf events without having been granted tournament releases.
Mickelson has been accused of acting as a “recruiter” for LIV Golf.
Embattled commissioner Monahan has been predicted by one PGA Tour pro to be leaving his post within the next two years.
Before LIV Golf’s penultimate event of their inaugural, $255m season in Jeddah, the aforementioned Mickelson suggested he believed LIV was winning golf’s civil war and predicted he believed their American counterpart would “trend downwards” unless they engaged in talks to co-exist.
Such a prospect seems unlikely at this point.
Mickelson’s comments were later pushed back on by Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
The PGA Tour also face the prospect of dealing with a U.S. Department of Justice investigation.
It was reported in July they were investigating whether the PGA Tour had engaged in anticompetitive behaviour.
The PGA Tour confirmed the inquiry to ESPN, claiming that it was “not unexpected”.
Article originally appeared on: Golfmagic.com
The Master’s is an invite tournament (past winner’s are automatic) The Player’s is a PGA tournament(so it could be said member’s only) However, The US Open and the Open are exactly that OPEN you just need to qualify. In past years Open winners were given exemptions for a x amount of years, sponsers exemption. So how is it that the PGA is dictating who can and cannot play. How is the two Open’s justifying not allowing the LIV Golf players from playing or the ex winners who have an exemption. I believe that is worth a law suit in itself. Most can’t remember back in the day when the PGA Tour began, their were a lot of PGA golf course pro’s who didn’t want the tour to be played at their respective golf courses. Yeah, pro’s like Arnold, Demeret, Snead, Hogan and the list was long. They weren’t allowed to use the practice areas, the club house, see where this is going? The PGA doesn’t have the deep pockets to compete with LIV Golf so they tried, political, suspension, take back the trophys, etc. The world of sports has had it’s upstarts in years past, they either accepted coexistence or they were brought into the fold of the stronger entity. That I believe is the bigger fear of the PGA, LIV Golf may survive and own the PGA? What’s really a big shame is the winner’s of The Master’s, US Open, The Open will not be playing against the best players in the world if they don’t compete against, Dustin, Cameron, Koepka, Dechambeau, Ancer, and many more.
Why don’t they just call in Sleepy Joe Biden, I’m sure he could smooth things over between the two leagues. They just need an ice cream summit…