11 LIV Joiners Including Mickelson File Antitrust Lawsuit Against PGA for Suspension

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Players who were banned from participating in the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour for participating in the LIV Golf Invitational Series launched by Saudi Arabia have taken legal action.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 3rd (local time) that 11 players, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, filed a lawsuit in the Northern District Court of California, claiming that the PGA violated antitrust laws.

In the complaint, they argued that the PGA's sanctions against players who participated in LIV Golf were intended to exclude strong competitors from the market. They explained that the regulations the PGA cited as grounds for severe penalties against players affiliated with LIV Golf constitute an abuse of a dominant position in the golf market and violate antitrust laws.

Additionally, among the 11 plaintiffs, three players including Matt Jones, who have qualified for next week's FedEx Cup Playoffs, separately filed an injunction request to suspend the PGA sanctions in order to participate in the tournament.

Until now, the global men's golf scene has been divided between the U.S. PGA and the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour). However, backed by Saudi Arabia's massive financial resources, LIV Golf is attracting popular stars affiliated with the PGA. In response, the PGA announced severe sanctions stating that players who participate in the LIV series will no longer be allowed to compete in any tournaments organized by the PGA.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.