Phil Mickelson and Three Other Golfers Drop Out of Antitrust Suit Against PGA Tour
Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson and three other players have dropped out of a lawsuit against the PGA Tour, claiming the organization is engaging in anticompetitive practices. The players also claim that the suspensions of LIV players are illegal. Read this article to learn more about the lawsuit, and how the PGA Tour responded.
Phil Mickelson and three other golfers withdraw from antitrust suit against P
Phil Mickelson and three other golfers have withdrawn from their antitrust suit against the PGA Tour. Mickelson and three other golfers had filed the suit, along with 10 other members of LIV Golf. It was the latest twist in a long-running battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. In the suit, the plaintiffs claim the PGA is abusing its power and unfairly denying players the opportunity to sell their services.
LIV Golf players allege PGA Tour engages in anti-competitive practices
Players on the LIV Golf Tour claim the PGA Tour engages in anti-competition practices. They allege the PGA Tour has prohibited them from competing in the playoffs, thereby degrading the quality and strength of competition. The PGA Tour denies these allegations, but has admitted to colluding with the DP World Tour.
PGA Tour’s suspensions of LIV players are unlawful
While the PGA Tour is right that LIV players are not entitled to play in the majors, it does not give them the authority to play in them. It could say that LIV interfered with their membership contracts, but LIV could also argue that players are adult athletes, and it is not illegal to give them opportunities to compete in other events.
PGA Tour’s response to the lawsuit
Several players have joined the fray, including Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, who are part of the 11-player LIV Golf group. Mickelson, who won the Masters in 2010, has been suspended from the PGA Tour since March for recruiting players for the LIV event. Mickelson appealed the suspension and applied for reinstatement in June. However, he was denied, largely due to his participation in the first LIV event outside of London. His suspension was extended until March 2024.
MoonPay’s technology
Three players who were part of the lawsuit have dropped out. Phil Mickelson, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones are representing themselves in the lawsuit. Other players include Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer, Ian Poulter and Pat Perez. The golfers’ attorneys say they did not think the case through.
Greg Norman’s lobbying efforts on behalf of LIV
Greg Norman’s lobbying efforts on behalf o LIV Golf have been met with controversy. The PGA Tour has received criticism for taking money from Saudi Arabia, and Greg Norman is one of the top players in the world. But some members of Congress have expressed outrage over his lobbying activities. Some lawmakers even walked out of the lobbying lunch and tweeted that Norman’s lobbying efforts were “propaganda.” Some are even calling for an investigation by the Justice Department into LIV Golf.
