The PGA Tour filed a countersuit against LIV Golf late Wednesday, alleging that the Saudi-backed upstart league is guilty of anti-competitive practices.
The suit is the latest volley in the battle between the legacy PGA Tour and upstart LIV, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s deep-pocketed Private Investment Fund and has been aggressive in wooing talent.
Several high-profile golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, have signed massive contracts to join LIV Golf. Tiger Woods reportedly turned down an LIV offer worth almost $800 million.
The PGA Tour upped its prizes and player benefits in August, widely seen as an attempt to match LIV’s enticing contracts. The tour also secured loyalty agreements from its top players, as fears of poaching remain.
Both leagues have claimed that the other’s player contracts and policies limit restrict golf talent and prevent proper competition.
“LIV has signed golfers to multi-year contracts containing obligations that are far more restrictive than anything in the [PGA Tour] Regulations, including a prohibition on participation in conflicting events that, unlike the TOUR’s conflicting event rules, does not allow for any request for release,” the PGA Tour said in its filing Wednesday.
