PGA Tour has earned another legal victory over its competitor LIV Golf during the ongoing anti-trust lawsuit in America.
A ruling in the case by US Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen will open up Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the financial backer of LIV Golf, for depositions.
Furthermore, it was ordered to produce documents in LIV Golf’s antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
Lawyers for the Public Investment Fund and its governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan, had sought to excuse themselves from all the subpoenas claiming sovereign immunity.
The ruling will allow the PGA Tour to seek documents and any communication related to such matters as LIV Golf’s recruiting and negotiating with players, (which has seen the rival league shell out millions to entice golfers), its business plans and its involvement in the new league.
Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were among 11 players who initially filed the anti-trust lawsuit against PGA Tour back in August before LIV Golf joined in as well. DeChambeau, Matt Jones and Peter Uihlein are the only three players who remain as plaintiffs.
PGA can now prod and probe LIV golf’s dealings with special attention to the monetary side as LIV spent lavishly on player salaries in its initial season.
With bonus money taken into account, Dustin Johnson made $35.6 million last year from eight tournaments while it is rumoured that Johnson, Mickelson, DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka received nearly $150 million just to signup to play for the league.
LIV will expand to 14 events this year among other changes.
The league signed a broadcast deal with CW and let go of its Managing Director, its COO the chief marketing officer and the chief communications officer.
