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PGA sues LIV Golf’s Saudi financiers to force discovery and testimony in ongoing antitrust case… and source says to expect more filings WEEKLY in legal standoff between rival tours
- The PGA filed a lawsuit aimed at compelling LIV Golf’s backers to testify in court
- LIV sued the PGA in August over antitrust claims after the Tour banned its golfers
- The PGA countersued and is now suing again to compel testimony and discovery
- Similar lawsuits are expected on a weekly basis amid the tours’ legal standoff
- Click here for all your latest international Sports news from DailyMail.com
The PGA’s ongoing legal battle with LIV Golf has spawned a new complaint aimed at compelling the rival tour’s Saudi backers to testify and release documents through discovery.
The latest lawsuit filed by the PGA remains sealed in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. However, a source close to the PGA told DailyMail.com that the lawsuit is aimed at persuading a federal judge to force Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor, Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, to be deposed in the ongoing legal battle with LIV in a California federal court. The PGA also hopes to obtain relevant documents from the PIF.
LIV attorneys initially agreed to discovery before objecting, the source told DailyMail.com. The PGA is expecting similar filings on a weekly basis going forward due to the number of disputes that are likely to occur.
Spokespeople for LIV Golf did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. PGA Tour spokespeople declined to address the lawsuit.
As sources told ESPN, attorneys for the PGA are hoping a judge will force Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund governor, Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan (right, alongside LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman), to be deposed in the Tour’s other legal battle with LIV in a California federal court. Spokespeople for the PGA Tour did not immediately respond to request for comment
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan (pictured) has suspended more than 30 LIV Golfers
LIV Golf and several of its players sued the PGA Tour in August over alleged antitrust violations, stemming from the Tour’s decision to ban any golfers who signed with the Saudi-backed circuit.
The PGA countersued in September, claiming LIV Golf is using antitrust laws ‘as a cudgel’ to undermine the Tour’s existing contracts with players. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has suspended more than 30 golfers since the conflict with LIV Golf began this year.
Several big names, including major winners such as Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau, have been lured to LIV Golf with lucrative signing bonuses reportedly worth as much as $100million to $200million. Phil Mickelson, who was originally involved in the class-action lawsuit against the Tour but has since withdrawn his name, was paid a reported $200 million to defect to LIV Golf.
Critics say LIV Golf is simply ‘sportswashing’ Saudi Arabia’s brutal human rights record.
In addition to his role with LIV Golf, Al-Rumayyan is familiar to sports fans in several other capacities: The 52-year-old is chairman of Newcastle United and the Saudi-owned petroleum company Saudi Aramco, one of Formula One’s largest sponsors.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice is investigating allegations that the PGA has been operating as a monopoly, which the Tour has denied.
His excellency Yasir Al Rumayyan (C) talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump (R) as Majed Al Sorour (L), CEO of Saudi Golf Federation, looks on during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey
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