The PGA Tour is striking back against LIV Golf in the courts.
A countersuit filed Wednesday spotlights huge bonuses — which reportedly reach $100 million to $200 million for some golfers — paid out by LIV.
“LIV’s orchestrated efforts to induce Tour members to breach their contracts and prevent them from entering into any future contract with the Tour are part of a deliberate effort to harm the Tour,” the PGA Tour said.
- The PGA Tour said LIV “openly sought to damage the Tour’s business relationships with its members,” and paid legal fees associated with breaking Tour contracts.
- It added that LIV has worked to “free-ride off the Tour and its platform” by enticing Tour members to break their contracts while maintaining their Tour memberships, thus allowing them to play in events like The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
LIV golfers filed a suit against the PGA Tour in August alleging that the Tour was engaging in anticompetitive behavior. LIV Golf has since joined the suit, but eight of the 11 original plaintiffs, including Phil Mickelson, have dropped out.
Reed the Room
Meanwhile, former Masters champion Patrick Reed, who signed with LIV in June, expanded a defamation lawsuit while withdrawing it in Texas and refiling in Florida.
Reed is suing the Golf Channel and its analyst Brandel Chamblee, and added hosts Damon Hack, Shane Bacon, Eamon Lynch, Golfweek, and parent company Gannett in the refiled suit.
The new filing seeks $750 million on 42 claims, including defamation and civil conspiracy.
