They were among 11 golfers who sued the PGA Tour on August 3, alleging that the tour harmed their careers by being suspended from PGA events and impeded LIV Golf’s efforts to launch a competitive golf league.
Now there are only three golfers left: Bryson Deschamps, Matt Jones and Peter Oehlen. LIV Golf, the controversial Saudi-funded startup that turned the world of professional golf on its head, was initially not a party to the case but Joined the lawsuit on August 26.
“I am focused on moving forward and very happy to be a part of LIV, while also thankful for my time on the Tour,” Mickelson said in a statement. “I am delighted that the players on the Tour are finally being heard, respected, appreciated and benefited from the recent changes. With LIV involved in these issues, the rights of the players will be protected, and I no longer feel it is necessary for me to be a part of the proceedings.”
By exiting the lawsuit at an early stage, players do not necessarily have the same level of exposure to discovery and LIV Golf emerges as the primary enemy in the courtroom of the PGA Tour as it pursues antitrust claims.
“Nothing has changed. The merits of the case – anti-competitive behavior on the PGA Tour – remain and will be fully tested in court,” said Jonathan Grilla, a spokesperson for LIV Golf. LIV stands with players who have been treated very poorly by the PGA Tour, But we also recognize that to be successful, we no longer need a wide range of players to be in the suit.”
Two players who withdrew from the lawsuit on Tuesday — Gooch and Swafford — unsuccessfully attempted to enter the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour by seeking a temporary restraining order in the case. US District Judge Beth Lapson Freeman denied their request Last month, players were said to have failed to prove they were disqualified from the tour’s end-of-season event which amounted to “irreparable damage”.
“Now that we’re past the PGA Tour season, and with LIV involved in these important issues, it is not necessary for me to remain a part of the cause,” Swafford said in a statement. “I have confidence that this case will demonstrate the anti-competitive behavior of the PGA Tour.”
Four of the plaintiffs in the initial complaint withdrew from the lawsuit: Abraham Anser, Jason Kokrac, Pat Perez and Carlos Ortiz.
The PGA Tour has denied the antitrust charges and is expected to provide its official response to the amended LIV Golf complaint this week. The trial is currently scheduled to begin in January 2024.
The LIV Golf Invitational Series will be holding its sixth event next week in Bangkok. Since launching LIV earlier this year, attracting many of the biggest names on the PGA Tour with eight- and nine-figure contracts, the PGA Tour has been Had to make big changesincreasing tournament portfolios, strengthening the reward system and ensuring that the top 20 players will compete in at least 20 events, including the Big Four and the FedEx Cup.
