Patrick Reed has filed a $750 million lawsuit against the American television network The Golf Channel and its commentator Brandel Chamblee.
The filing said “calculated, malicious, erroneous and reckless attacks” inflicted great damage on 2018 Masters champion Reed.
The 32-year-old American suggested that the comments cost him several million-dollar sponsorship deals.
Chamblee and The Golf Channel have yet to respond to Reed’s allegations.
Reed joins the LIV Golf Series in June.
The lawsuit alleges that Chamblee and the network have “actively targeted Reed since he was 23 years old, to damage his reputation, create hatred and a hostile work environment towards him.” , and with the intention of discrediting his name and achievements as a young, world-class, elite golfer”.
Reed went on to accuse Chamblee of “disinformation” with “recklessly disregarding the truth”.
Several prominent players have left the US-based PGA Tour for the £1.6 billion Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit. The PGA Tour has responded by imposing indefinite bans on players committed to LIV Golf as well as increasing prize money for some of its own tournaments.
Reed’s is one of many expected legal matches between players on the LIV Golf Circuit and PGA Tour, while players, such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, met this week to discuss the threat posed by the Saudi-sponsored tour.
