US Department of Justice Launches Antitrust Investigation into 'PGA Tour-LIV Golf Merger'

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly launching an antitrust investigation into the merger decision between the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour and the LIV Golf Series, which is backed by Saudi Arabian capital.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 15th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited sources saying that the Department of Justice has notified its intention to conduct such an investigation and that merger activities will be halted for at least a year. Although the PGA Tour and LIV Golf recently decided on a sudden merger to stabilize the division within the global men's golf scene after various lawsuits, U.S. authorities have effectively put the brakes on it.

The source confirmed that if the PGA Tour or LIV Golf do not agree to certain conditions proposed by the Department of Justice, the merger agreement itself could be completely nullified. However, the Department of Justice declined to comment on the matter.

Earlier, members of the U.S. Congress also raised concerns that this merger might violate U.S. antitrust laws. Lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren of the Democratic Party, requested the Department of Justice to determine whether the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf violates the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, also a Democrat, pointed out that Saudi Arabia, leveraging its financial power, might seek to exert influence over sports through this merger. Critics argue that Saudi Arabia aims to whitewash its image as a human rights violator through sports.

Currently, in the U.S., negative public opinion is spreading regarding this merger decision, given that Saudi Arabia, which funds the LIV Series, is a dictatorship responsible for human rights abuses such as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Senator Blumenthal recently requested detailed materials related to the merger, as well as information on the organizational structure and operational methods post-merger, from the top executives of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

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