LIV Golf Hit With Legal Setback

U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman dealt the PGA Tour its first victory in a legal challenge brought by LIV Golf last week as she denied a temporary restraining order that would have cleared three of the Saudi-backed circuit’s participants to compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

In her ruling in a San Jose courtroom on Tuesday, Freeman said the “evidence shows without a doubt” that Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, and Matt Jones haven’t suffered irreparable harm because they “will be earning more” playing with LIV Golf. 

Gooch, Swafford, and Jones were put on probation and then suspended by the PGA Tour after the three left for LIV Golf earlier this year, making them ineligible for the three-stop postseason that begins at TPC Southwind in Memphis on Thursday. 

Major Pay Bump

The trio’s recent paydays support Freeman’s ruling.

• Gooch (turned pro in 2014) made $9.5 million on the PGA Tour. In three LIV events, he’s made $1 million more per tournament (1,387%), according to Bloomberg. 
• Swafford (2010) had PGA Tour earnings of $10 million. His per-tournament winnings have increased more than $108,195 (243%) since joining LIV Golf. 
• Jones (2001) made $18 million on the PGA Tour. Jones’ average winnings are $147,922 more (311%) since he defected to LIV Golf. 

“Our players, fans, and partners can now focus on what really matters over the next three weeks: the best players in the world competing in the FedExCup Playoffs,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan wrote in a letter to players.