Tag: LIV Golf Series

‘If anyone is competing unfairly, it is LIV’: PGA Tour responds, countersues LIV Golf in latest legal action

The Tour is arguing LIV is using players to “free ride off the Tour and its platform.”

Another day, another lawsuit in the ongoing battle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

LIV Golf and three of its players are currently suing the PGA Tour for antitrust violations, and on Wednesday night the Tour responded to and countersued the upstart circuit – led by Greg Norman and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – with some charges of its own.

While LIV alleges the Tour uses monopoly power and illegally suspended players, the Tour’s countersuit claims LIV is using players, “and the game of golf to sportswash the recent history of Saudi atrocities and to further the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s Vision 2030 initiatives.”

From the countersuit:

“Indeed, a key component of LIV’s strategy has been to intentionally induce Tour members to breach their Tour agreements and play in LIV events while seeking to maintain their Tour memberships and play in marquee Tour events like The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup Playoffs, so LIV can free ride off the Tour and its platform.

“LIV has openly sought to damage the Tour’s business relationships with its members by inducing them to breach their contractual requirements, even going so far as to pay members’ legal fees to make breaching their contracts with Tour more enticing.”

Eleven LIV players were part of the original lawsuit on Aug. 3 before Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Hudson Swafford and Talor Gooch asked to be removed on Tuesday, joining Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez and Jason Kokrak, who all previously removed their names. LIV Golf, who joined the suit in an amended complaint filed Aug. 27., and just three players remain: Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Jones and Peter Uihlein.

More: What to consider after LIV players lose Round 1 in lawsuit vs. Tour

“The Player Plaintiffs that have remained in the case,” the argument reads, “want only to enrich themselves in complete disregard of the promises they made to the Tour and its members when they joined the Tour.”

“LIV, by its own admission, has succeeded in attracting numerous elite professional golfers to participate in its new league. LIV has held numerous events with full fields and has announced a full season for 2023. Both LIV and the Player Plaintiffs baked the financial cost of their suspensions into LIV’s exorbitant signing bonuses, making the Player Plaintiffs whole,” the document states. “Moreover, while LIV and the Player Plaintiffs challenge the Tour’s media rights and conflicting events policies as anticompetitive, LIV imposes similar – indeed far more restrictive – conditions on its players, and the Player Plaintiffs have agreed to them.

“This case is not about unfair competition – if anyone is competing unfairly, it is LIV, not the Tour. Instead, it is a cynical effort to avoid competition and to free ride off of the Tour’s investment in the development of professional golf. Plaintiffs’ allegations are baseless and entirely without legal merit.”

The U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating the Tour for its actions in combatting LIV.

[listicle id=778298233]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

‘I don’t want a fractured game’: Rory McIlroy explains why he thinks PGA Tour, LIV Golf must try to work together

“But saying that, I don’t think we can let it go too much longer.”

Always one to give an honest answer, Rory McIlroy has often been on the frontlines and in the headlines in the PGA Tour’s very public battle for supremacy against the upstart LIV Golf.

Despite PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan recently saying the Tour and LIV cannot work together, the four-time major champion thinks that, once cooler heads prevail, the two sides must meet in the middle.

“I’ve always said I think there is a time and a place where everyone that’s involved here should sit down and try to work together,” McIlroy said Wednesday at the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. “It’s very hard for that to happen right now when there’s two lawsuits going on.”

“But look, I don’t want a fractured game. I never have. You look at some other sports and what’s happened and the game of golf is ripping itself apart right now and that’s no good for anyone,” McIlroy continued. “It’s no good for the guys on, you know, this side or the sort of traditional system and it’s no good for the guys on the other side, either. It’s no good for anyone. There is a time and a place for it. I just think right now, with where everything is, it’s probably not the right time.”

“But saying that, I don’t think we can let it go too much longer,” he added. “So I’m all for everyone sitting around the table and trying to figure something out for sure.”

Though the power struggle between LIV and the traditional tours has dominated the game for the last year, McIlroy – who’s playing with his father this week – made sure to note something we’re all too quick to forget: There’s more to golf than the pro game.

“Golf is so much bigger than all of us and I think people miss that,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes our vision of what that game should be is a little bit different but at the end of the day it is golf and it’s a wonderful game and it’s a game that can be played for life.”

[vertical-gallery id=778266970]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Jay Monahan shoots down idea of PGA Tour, LIV Golf coexisting in ESPN Q&A

“I think it’s impractical when you look at the fact that certain players have sued the PGA Tour,” said Monahan.

Last week Phil Mickelson addressed the ongoing battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, saying “the best solution is for us to come together.”

After PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan’s recent interview with ESPN, Lefty better not hold his breath. Monahan addressed everything from the Presidents Cup to Tiger Woods’ leadership amid the Tour’s struggles against the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. Most importantly, he flat-out said LIV Golf and the PGA Tour cannot work together or coexist.

“I think it’s impractical when you look at the fact that certain players have sued the PGA Tour, their employer has sued the PGA Tour,” said Monahan. “It’s not in the cards. It hasn’t been in the cards and it’s not in the cards. I think we’ve been pretty consistent on that front.”

Sources: LIV Golf nears deal to buy time on Fox Sports to air events
More: Mickelson, other LIV players drop from PGA Tour lawsuit

Monahan was then asked point-blank: Why will the PGA Tour outlast LIV Golf?

“Because the game, at the highest level, is about aspiration. It’s about context. And any young kid today, any kid that’s going to be playing the game going forward, ultimately is going to want to win the biggest championships, the biggest tournaments, and put themselves in a position and on a path over the course of their golf journey to get to the PGA Tour and to again, achieve at the highest level. We are going to continue to evolve and get stronger in every single area of that spectrum or of that journey.

And the game itself will continue to evolve from an entertainment standpoint, but it isn’t going to be solely about entertainment. It’s going to be about how do I achieve what Tiger Woods has achieved, or Jordan Spieth or Jon Rahm or Collin Morikawa or Patrick Cantlay or Xander Schauffele?”

As for the future of men’s golf, Monahan said the Tour would “lean into” the changes its made to its schedule and elevated events in order to keep providing players “not only the strongest competitive platform, but also the strongest brand platform.” That two-pronged platform pitch is how Monahan has been keeping the top players from the leaving the Tour in search of greener pastures.

“I focus on where we are and where we’re going. And I focus on two things: What your possibility is from an income standpoint on the PGA Tour, [and] from a competitive standpoint on the PGA Tour, because ultimately what I tell someone depends on what their purpose is. What do you want to accomplish?” said Monahan, who also preached the power of a player’s independence on Tour from where they play to which brands they partner with. “To me, if you want to achieve at the highest level of the game and you want to win the biggest championships in the game, then we have an incredible story to tell on that front.”

According to Monahan, the changes the Tour has made to its schedule will also have a positive impact on the fan experience seeing as they’ll know when and where the Tour’s best players will be in action. He also pointed to the Tour’s presentation on ESPN+ and investment in concepts such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports.

“What we started with will not be where we end up,” said Monahan. “I think you’ll see a lot of progress on that front.”

He also encouraged players to seek out other opinions.

“I’m only one voice, and granted, I’m honored to be able to lead this organization, but I think when you’re making choices like this, you need to know with certainty what you’re getting into,” explained Monahan. “And so I try and provide that certainty on our side and make certain that players understand it as they think about anything that might change.”

Monahan also said he “didn’t make much” of Norman’s recent visit to Capitol Hill, but the commissioner also heaped praise on Woods and McIlroy, who held a players meeting before the BMW Championship in August to discuss the Tour’s battle with LIV.

“When you take two icons of the game and they’re taking responsibility for bringing the guys together and continuing to think of ways to improve the PGA Tour, make it stronger and make commitments that have never been made before, it was a really important moment in time,” said Monahan, who noted how players look up to Woods and listen to him carefully in the same way that Jack Nicklaus still holds a commanding presence in the game.

“His on-course presence is matched by his voice or his off-course presence,” added Monahan.

You can read the full Q&A here.

[listicle id=778298233]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Trevor Immelman explains ‘LOL’ response to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman wishing Internationals good luck at 2022 Presidents Cup

“What I said was exactly what I was doing when I read that tweet. I was laughing out loud.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — We’ve all used “LOL” as a response, usually to a funny message online. Normally it’s not literal. I mean, who actually laughs out loud, then says so?

Trevor Immelman, that’s who.

The captain of the International team at the 2022 Presidents Cup couldn’t help but react honestly when Greg Norman, the former leader of the International squad turned CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, wished Immelman and the worldwide all-stars good luck on Twitter.

“Look, any of you that have known me for the longest time know that I’m an extremely open and honest person. I pretty much say it exactly as I’m thinking it,” Immelman said after Friday’s four-ball matches at Quail Hollow Club. “What I said was exactly what I was doing when I read that tweet. I was laughing out loud.”

“I learned long ago that lying is dangerous because you’ve got to have a good memory,” he continued. “So I’d rather just tell the truth.”

Immelman wasn’t laughing Friday evening after his International side lost 4-1 for the second consecutive day to fall behind 8-2 against the stacked American squad. The competition continues Saturday morning with four foursomes matches beginning at 7:12 a.m. ET.

[vertical-gallery id=778298183]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Greg Norman visits Washington, D.C., to pitch LIV Golf; Tennessee congressman walks out of meeting

CEO Greg Norman was in Washington, D.C., to lobby for LIV Golf.

On a day many of the top golfers in the world were in Charlotte, North Carolina, selecting matchups and preparing for the 14th Presidents Cup, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was in Washington, D.C., lobbying on behalf of his Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway golf league.

“LIV Golf is coming to the Hill this week to meet with lawmakers from both parties,” LIV Golf confirmed to Golfweek. “Given the PGA Tour’s attempts to stifle our progress in reimagining the game, we think it’s imperative to educate members on LIV’s business model and counter the Tour’s anti-competitive efforts.”

In June, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice is investigating whether the PGA Tour engaged in anticompetitive behavior against LIV Golf.

Both sides are actively lobbying lawmakers and on Wednesday, Norman was in the nation’s capital for a meeting with the Republican Study Committee, which is considered the largest conservative caucus in the House.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the Republican Study Committee, has called on the Justice Department to investigate whether LIV Golf violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act by not registering its ties with the Saudi Arabian government, according to a report by thehill.com.

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) called Norman’s appearance “propaganda” before walking out of the meeting.

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf has been criticized as a way for the Kingdom to “sportswash” its human rights record. Saudi Arabia has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, including politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. And members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.

[listicle id=778288079]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

‘We’re a team of honor’: Captains Davis Love III, Trevor Immelman address lack of LIV Golf players at Presidents Cup

“All the cards were out on the table, and everybody knew where they stood,” said Immelman.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When looking at the rosters for both the American and International teams at this week’s Presidents Cup, some big names are missing.

Even though players such as Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith, who made the jump from the PGA Tour to Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, aren’t competing this week at Quail Hollow Club, their lack of presence was felt and addressed ahead of the biennial bout.

“Every single player that I spoke to from early on in this process knew exactly what the situation and the consequences were going to be,” International captain Trevor Immelman said alongside American captain Davis Love III in a pre-event press conference on Tuesday. “And they knew that if they made certain decisions, it was going to be highly unlikely they were going to be able to represent the International team. So that went into their decision-making process.

“All the cards were out on the table, and everybody knew where they stood.”

Meet the teams: Americans | Internationals
Lynch: Americans finally have reason to win event they almost never lose

When Immelman was made captain after the Internationals lost a close match, 16-14, in 2019 at Royal Melbourne in Australia, he said he signed up for a specific set of rules, seeing as the event is owned and sanctioned by the PGA Tour, and that his team plays by those rules.

“We’re a team of our word. We’re a team of honor,” he continued. “So that’s where we’re at.”

A two-time member of the International squad as a player in 2005 and 2007 and an assistant in 2019, Immelman said he was up to speed, and players who made the move to LIV were “open and honest” throughout their decision-making process.

“Am I disappointed that they’re not able to be here? Absolutely,” said Immelman. “But we have the 12 guys here that we love and wanted to be here, and now we get to go. We get to go up against a strong American team. So we’re looking forward.

“When you look at our team, what we’re trying to tap into is the International team represents billions of people all over the world,” he continued. “So we’re trying to tap into that, inspire the youngsters all over, and welcome fans from all of those countries to come on down and support us in some way, shape, or form because we’re their team.”

Love, a two-time Ryder Cup captain in 2012 and 2016, said the Americans miss players like Johnson, who would have been a captain’s pick had he been eligible for the event, but thinks the red, white and blue “pretty much got the guys we wanted to get.”

“We’re really happy with the 12 we’ve got because we know that they’re committed and excited,” Love added. “So, like Trevor, we have a bunch of guys who are excited and ready to play, and there’s no talk in our team room of anybody missing.”

[vertical-gallery id=778297596]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Greg Norman to visit Capitol Hill to discuss LIV Golf, address Saudi Arabia concerns

The series is on a two-week break before hosting consecutive events in Bangkok, Thailand, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Greg Norman is heading to Washington, D.C. to talk L-I-V.

LIV Golf’s CEO and commissioner is set to visit with members of Congress this week on Capitol Hill to discuss the upstart circuit that features 54-hole tournaments, no cuts, shotgun starts and massive paydays. The news was first reported by Politico.

“LIV Golf is coming to the Hill this week to meet with lawmakers from both parties,” LIV Golf confirmed to Golfweek. “Given the PGA Tour’s attempts to stifle our progress in reimagining the game, we think it’s imperative to educate members on LIV’s business model and counter the Tour’s anti-competitive efforts.”

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf has been criticized as a way for the Kingdom to “sportswash” its human rights record. Saudi Arabia has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, including politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. And members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.

The ongoing power struggle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour for professional golf supremacy has seen both organizations lobby against the other on Capitol Hill, and it’s a fight that won’t end anytime soon.

Eleven golfers sued the PGA Tour for antitrust violations in August, but only seven remain after four players removed their names. When a judge in California denied the temporary restraining order that would have allowed three LIV players to compete in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, it also was revealed the antitrust case would begin in August of 2023 at the earliest. The United States Department of Justice is investigating the PGA Tour, as well.

Cameron Smith won LIV Golf’s Chicago event Sunday at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, by three shots over Peter Uihlein and Dustin Johnson. The series is on a two-week break before hosting consecutive events in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 7-9, followed by Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 14-16.

[vertical-gallery id=778297069]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Watch: Bryson DeChambeau takes a rope to the face, falls to one knee at LIV Golf Chicago

LIV announcer said “Off with his head” after Bryson DeChambeau tangled with a rope.

Bryson DeChambeau was knocked to a knee in Sunday’s final round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series Chicago.

From video of the mishap posted on social media by Kyle Porter of CBS and others, it appears the former U.S. Open champion tried to walk under a gallery rope at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, but grossly misjudged the rope’s height. He never put his hands up to grab the rope, which also was being lifted by a volunteer of the event. As he went to pass under the rope, he walked right into it and somehow got it stuck under his hat and appears to possibly have hit himself in the eye. Then DeChambeau fell to one knee as the announcers of the livestream groaned.

One of the announcers appears to have said, “Off with his head.”

Wes Brown was at the event and captured the incident from a different angle. This version contains profanity.

Despite the awkward interaction, DeChambeau – who earlier in the week said it was the PGA Tour’s loss that LIV players will not be allowed to play in team events such as the upcoming Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup – was able to finish his round. He finished in a tie for 10th, seven shots behind winner Cameron Smith.

[vertical-gallery id=778297069]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Full breakdown of LIV Golf Chicago prize money payouts

Cameron Smith earned $4 million for his win.

Five players finished the LIV Golf Invitational Series stop near Chicago in last place, T-44 at 6 over and a whopping 19 shots behind winner Cameron Smith. For their efforts they’ll each take home $124,000.

That’s the selling point for the upstart series led by Greg Norman and supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund: 54-hole, no cut events that offer massive contracts and paydays.

Smith carried his form from the PGA Tour to LIV, finishing T-4 in his first start at LIV Golf Boston and winning this week at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, by two shots over Dustin Johnson and Peter Uihlein. Smith’s $4 million payday trumps his three previous wins last season on the PGA Tour, where he earned $1.476 million for winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions, $2.5 million for winning the British Open and $3.6 million for winning the Players Championship.

Check out the full prize money payouts for each player at LIV Golf Chicago.

Position Player Score Earnings
1 Cameron Smith -13 $4,000,000
T2 Peter Uihlein -10 $1,812,500
T2 Dustin Johnson -10 $1,812,500
T4 Sergio Garcia -8 $1,012,500
T4 Joaquin Niemann -8 $1,012,500
T6 Charl Schwartzel -7 $737,500
T6 Louis Oosthuizen -7 $737,500
T8 Phil Mickelson -6 $576,250
T8 Laurie Canter -6 $576,250
T8 Bryson DeChambeau -6 $576,250
T8 Chase Koepka -6 $576,250
T12 Lee Westwood -5 $332,500
T12 Cameron Tringale -5 $332,500
T12 Patrick Reed -5 $332,500
T12 Scott Vincent -5 $332,500
T16 Matt Jones -4 $236,000
T16 Matthew Wolff -4 $236,000
T18 Charles Howell III -3 $215,333
T18 Richard Bland -3 $215,333
T18 Branden Grace -3 $215,333
T21 Paul Casey -2 $170,000
T21 Brooks Koepka -2 $170,000
T21 Anirban Lahiri -2 $170,000
T21 Jason Kokrak -2 $170,000
T21 Harold Varner III -2 $170,000
T21 Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra -2 $170,000
T27 Abraham Ancer -1 $159,000
T27 Henrik Stenson -1 $159,000
T27 Ian Poulter -1 $159,000
T27 James Piot -1 $159,000
T31 Pat Perez E $152,000
T31 Carlos Ortiz E $152,000
T31 Phachara Khongwatmai E $152,000
34 Kevin Na 1 $148,000
T35 Bernd Wiesberger 3 $145,000
T35 Talor Gooch 3 $145,000
T37 Graeme McDowell 4 $137,000
T37 Wade Ormsby 4 $137,000
T37 Martin Kaymer 4 $137,000
T37 Sadom Kaewkanjana 4 $137,000
T37 Jediah Morgan 4 $137,000
T37 David Puig 4 $137,000
43 Sam Horsfield 5 $130,000
T44 Marc Leishman 6 $124,000
T44 Sihwan Kim 6 $124,000
T44 Shaun Norris 6 $124,000
T44 Hudson Swafford 6 $124,000
T44 Turk Pettit 6 $124,000

[vertical-gallery id=778297069]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Cameron Smith wins LIV Golf Chicago event; Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces win fourth consecutive team title

Smith finished T-4 in his LIV Golf debut earlier this month in Boston.

Cameron Smith is feeling right at home on the 54 Tour.

After finishing T-4 in his LIV Golf debut earlier this month in Boston, Smith won in his second start at LIV Golf Chicago on Sunday at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The 29-year-old Aussie entered the final round with a three-shot lead and walked off the course with a three-shot win, with Peter Uihlein and Dustin Johnson T-2 at 10 under.

Ranked No. 3 in the world, Smith hasn’t lost his form since joining the Greg Norman-led upstart series that’s currently at odds with the PGA Tour. In 18 starts last year on Tour, Smith earned seven top-10 finishes, including a trio of wins at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship and Open Championship (his first major title).

Led by captain Dustin Johnson, the 4 Aces won the team title for the fourth consecutive event, this time at 24 under. Brooks Koepka and his Smash GC finished second at 22 under.

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf has been criticized as a way for the Kingdom to “sportswash” its human rights record. Saudi Arabia has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, including politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. And members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.

The series will take a two-week break before heading to Stonehill Golf Club in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 7-9, followed by Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 14-16.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]