LIV Golf players have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour over restrictions against them. They argued that banning them from participating in PGA events was unfair to their professional careers.
They claimed that the PGA Tour misused its power to monopolize the sport. The lawsuit was filed by Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, Matt Jones, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Ian Poulter, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak, and Peter Uihlein.
Responds from PGA Tour
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan responded to the lawsuit, saying it was the consequence for athletes who signed with rival leagues. He said the decision to join the LIV Golf side created a disturbance to the PGA Tour’s schedule.
“We have been preparing to protect our membership and contest this latest attempt to disrupt our tour, and you should be confident in the legal merits of our position,” he said.
Monahan suspended Mickelson for two months in March for recruiting golfers to join LIV Golf. Monahan later denied Mickelson’s reinstatement over participation in a LIV Golf event. He said that if Mickelson plays for one more event, he would be banned from the PGA Tour until March 2024.
“Fundamentally, these suspended players — who are now Saudi Golf League employees — have walked away from the tour and now want back in,” Monahan said.
“It’s an attempt to use the tour platform to promote themselves and to freeride on your benefits and efforts.”
Backed by Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf provides a total of $25 million purses for 48-man fields as a signing bonus. With that condition, Monahan commented that LIV Golf is trying to buy the game of golf by spending money and it made the PGA Tour unable to compete.
“We welcome good, healthy competition. The LIV Saudi golf league is not that,” he said. “It’s an irrational threat, one not concerned with the return on investment or true growth of the game.”
Mickelson reportedly inked a deal with a signing bonus worth $200 million and became the highest-paid athlete in LIV Golf. DeChambeau followed suit, agreeing to a $150 million payout. With the bonus, Mickelson established himself as the highest-paid golfer of 2022, while DeChambeau is third.
Responds from LIV Golf
LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman has voiced his opinion about the antitrust lawsuit. Norman said he supported the action, saying it was a fight for the freedom of golfers to play anywhere.
“The players are right to have brought this action to challenge the PGA’s anti-competitive rules and to vindicate their rights as independent contractors to play where and when they choose. Despite the PGA Tour’s effort to stifle competition, we think golfers should be allowed to play golf,” Norman said.
Norman said LIV Golf would give financial support to any legal matters. Last month, four European LIV Golfers were reinstated and participated in the Scottish Open.
LIV Golf has conducted two events in the U.S. this year, in Oregon and New Jersey. Three other events have been scheduled for Boston, Chicago, and Miami.