Phil Mickelson and three other LIV Golfers withdraw PGA Tour lawsuit | Golf News
Bryson DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones and Saudi-funded LIV Golf are currently the sole plaintiffs in the case, the trial of which is expected to begin until January 2024; Mickelson said two weeks ago: “LIV Golf is here to stay.”
Last Updated: 09/27/22 5:01 pm
Phil Mickelson, the driving force behind the PGA Tour players in the rival LIV Golf series, and three other players have asked a federal judge to remove their names from the antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Ian Poulter have filed separate petitions to have their names removed. That leaves only three players Bryson DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones and Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf as plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in early August.
The trial is expected to begin until January 2024.
Mickelson’s decision is not a surprise. He said two weeks ago to SI.com that it is no longer necessary for him to participate in the case when LIV Golf has joined as the plaintiff.
“The only reason I stayed was the damage, which I didn’t really want or need at all,” Mickelson said. “I think it’s important that the players have the right to play when and where they want, when and where they qualify. And now that the LIV is part of it, that will be done if and when they win.”
LIV Golf suffered a setback in court when U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman denied a temporary injunction that sought to allow LIV Golf players to compete in the lucrative PGA Tour tournament.
Mickelson is one of the main recruiters for LIV Golf and its leader, Greg Norman.
In an interview with Alan Shipnuck about his biography of Mickelson, the six-time major champion said he recruited three other top players for LIV Golf and that they paid lawyers to write the deal. operating agreement for the proposed tournament.
Mickelson was one of the last players announced when LIV Golf and its $25 million wallet started in early June. There are already five events, with the next two scheduled for October in Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
LIV Golf has 12 of the top 50 courses in the world rankings.
Patrick Reed fell out of the top 50 this week, in part because LIV Golf failed to receive a world ranking score when its application to the Official World Golf Rankings was reviewed, a process that can be lengthy. to next summer.
“The PGA Tour over the last 20 or 30 years has had all the best players in the world – that’s never going to happen again,” Mickelson said two weeks ago. “LIV Golf is here to stay, and this kind of divisive talk doesn’t work.”
His hope is that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour will work together, which PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has said is unlikely. The PGA Tour has suspended all members contracted with LIV Golf for violating the rules of the tour.