PGA Tour Files Motion To Ban LIV Golfers From FedEx Cup Playoffs

The war of words, threats, and morals has landed LIV Golf and the PGA Tour in federal court.

In other layers to an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour on behalf of Phil Mickelson, Pat Perez, Bryson Dechambeau, and eight others, Talor Gooch, Matt Jones, and Hudson Swafford had filed a temporary restraining order to allow them to play in the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs, to which they qualified for without consideration to their PGA Tour Suspension. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In a retaliatory move, the PGA Tour has filed a motion in federal court, asking the judge to disregard the emergency restraining order on the grounds of greed. The PGA Tour noted that the players knew that they would be suspended indefinitely due to their participation with LIV Golf and that they, “can’t have their cake and eat it too.”

This is quite the paragraph. pic.twitter.com/oaHZdprffx

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 8, 2022

Attorneys for the PGA Tour also indicated that this is no emergency situation at all, rather timely litigation due to the commencement this weekend of the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs in Memphis, Tennessee, at the St. Jude Championship.

The motion noted that two months of time had elapsed until the suit was filed and deliberately noted LIV Golf’s Saudi ties and attempts to “sportswash” the series on behalf of the government, which stands accused of horrific human rights violations. 

The @pgatour responds to LIV’s emergency request to get three players into the @FedExChamp. They rightly ask why only three FedExCup eligible defectors want to play and not the others. From @espn: https://t.co/OfU43tV8Ko

— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) August 8, 2022

Greg Norman, the face of LIV Golf, responded by stating that golfers are independent contractors and should have the freedom to play where their talents and abilities allow. With the next LIV Golf event taking place September 2nd through the 4th in Bolton, Massachusetts, some time exists for the court proceedings to take place before tee-off. For the St Jude Classic, not so much. 

The @pgatour responds to LIV’s emergency request to get three players into the @FedExChamp. They rightly ask why only three FedExCup eligible defectors want to play and not the others. From @espn: https://t.co/OfU43tV8Ko

— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) August 8, 2022

Do you think Talor Gooch, Matt Jones, and Hudson Swafford should be allowed to play in the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cover Image Via golfweek