Federal Judge Denies LIV Golfers Offer for PGA Tour Postseason – TSN.ca

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A federal judge in California ruled Tuesday that three golfers who have joined Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf cannot compete in the PGA Tour postseason.

US District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman made her decision in San Jose after attorneys for both sides spoke for about an hour each. Freeman said she doesn’t see the golfers as irreparably harmed because of the big money they’re guaranteed by joining LIV, a key issue in the case.

“In this case, there’s just no irreparable damage,” said PGA Tour attorney Elliot Peters.

The three suspended golfers sought a restraining order, which Freeman refused. Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford all claimed they should be able to play where they wanted, and each said, “I’m a free agent and an independent contractor,” in letters to the PGA Tour last month are among 10 players who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour last week – including Phil Mickelson.

Robert Walters, an antitrust attorney representing the golfers, noted that this is their shot at a big playoff stage, “effectively the Super Bowl of golf” because of its “significant revenue potential.” Freeman responded that the LIV Tour had great winning potential as well, and asked if players could possibly have waited until the end of the PGA Tour season to embark on the new tour.

Walters argued that there were only 48 courses and, according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, they had been filled in, to which Freeman said she agreed with that stance, but that golfers would gain far more financially by joining LIV than that Money they might have earned on the PGA Tour.

“This is an extremely attractive financial opportunity, but it’s much more than that,” Walters said, saying the damage done is that “players lose intangible benefits” like qualifying for the major tournaments and other marquee invitations.

“That’s the holy grail because everyone wants to compete in major championships and compete, but it’s not just the majors,” Walters said. He noted that the PGA Tour concluded that by playing in PGA Tour tournaments, perhaps even wearing LIV Tour gear, these golfers would add a “stain” or “stink” to the Tour’s image.

“We are disappointed that Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones are not allowed to play golf. Nobody benefits from banning golfers from playing,” LIV Golf said in a statement.

The first of three FedEx Cup Playoff events begins Thursday. Two tournaments offer $15 million in prize money, and the player who wins the FedEx Cup at Atlanta’s East Lake receives $18 million – hence the urgency for Freeman to reign. According to Peters, that case could go to court next year, with the possibility of a preliminary hearing in late September or early October.

Peters said lifting golfers’ suspensions and allowing them to play would “change the status quo for the PGA Tour and give them “a fabulous platform” to promote the LIV Tour while they’re at a PGA.” -attend event.

“I think it’s a huge problem,” he said. “… The commissioner needs the ability to protect the tour. It’s a very bad situation for the Tour.”

Gooch (No. 20), Jones (No. 65) and Swafford (No. 67) are among nine players who joined LIV Golf and finished the regular season in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup standings. The other six who have joined LIV Golf are not asking to play in the tour’s postseason.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan issued a memo to members that said: “With today’s news, our players, fans and partners can now focus the next three weeks on what really matters: the best players in the world, competing in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, capping off an incredibly compelling season by being crowned FedEx Cup Champion at the Tour Championship.”

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AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson contributed to this report.

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