Saturday, April 18, 2026
Law

PGA Tour Seeks to Push LIV Golf Antitrust Trial Date Back

  • The PGA Tour called the current January 2024 trial date ‘untenable’ in request for new hearing.
  • Lawyers for the PGA Tour claim PIF and its governor continue to resist subpoena efforts.
Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

The PGA Tour is seeking a delay in the civil antitrust lawsuit filed by LIV Golf. 

In a filing late Sunday night, PGA Tour lawyers wrote the “current trial date and discovery schedule are untenable” and requested a hearing to extend both. Jury selection is currently scheduled to begin on Jan. 8, 2024. 

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund — LIV Golf’s major financial backer — and PIF’s governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan “continue to resist compliance with the [PGA] Tour’s subpoenas for documents and testimony,” PGA Tour attorneys wrote in the filing. 

Less than two weeks ago, the PGA Tour sought to add PIF and Al-Rumayyan to its counterclaim against LIV Golf over allegations they tortiously interfered with the PGA Tour’s contracts with players. 

“It could take several months (or longer) before PIF and Mr. Al-Rumayyan even begin producing discovery or choose to face the consequences of their noncompliance,” the PGA Tour’s lawyers wrote. “For these reasons, the court should vacate the trial date and set a new schedule for discovery with sufficient runway to allow for these pending issues to be resolved.”

LIV Golf

Judge Denies LIV Golf’s Request to Subpoena Condoleezza Rice, Others

LIV Golf suffers setback in battle against the PGA Tour.
January 30, 2023

Attorneys for LIV Golf wrote in the same filing that PGA Tour is seeking to “shield itself from trial as long as possible.” The lawyers added the PGA Tour’s “ anticompetitive methods are inflicting ongoing harm on LIV and the Player Plaintiffs, who need prompt relief.”

“The Tour’s misguided effort to delay the trial schedule based on its efforts to take discovery from non-parties PIF, a sovereign entity, and Mr. Al-Rumayyan, a minister level public official, should be rejected,” LIV Golf’s lawyers wrote the filing. “The Tour was aware of these issues when it agreed to the present case schedule less than a month ago. That third-party discovery was not a basis to continue the trial date less than a month ago, and it is not a basis to do so now.”

Beyond other discovery issues, the PGA Tour listed Phil Mickelson over allegations he “has failed to produce core responsive documents” that include his contract negotiation with LIV Golf, interactions with his agent, and “communications with the media regarding interviews in which he discussed his decision to leave” the PGA Tour. 

“To date, Mr. Mickelson has produced fewer than 600 documents, some of which are materials the TOUR sent to Mr. Mickelson, copies of the complaint and discovery requests, and junk files with no content,” the PGA Tour’s lawyers wrote. 

Mickelson was among the initial LIV Golf players who were the original plaintiffs in the lawsuit over allegations the PGA Tour of anticompetitive behavior to hold LIV Golf back. 

Mickelson and most other players dropped out, leaving LIV Golf as the lead plaintiff. Abraham Ancer, Jason Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz, and Pat Perez — who were also briefly plaintiffs in the case — have allegedly been slow to turn over information subpoenaed by the PGA Tour.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 4, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

LIV Golf CEO: League Looking for New Investors

Scott O’Neil admitted LIV will need to raise money moving forward.
LIV Golf livestream

LIV Golf Loses Mexico Livestream for Nearly Three Hours

The league’s broadcast feeds were down for more than an hour.

LIV Golf’s Future: Three Big Questions If Saudi Funding Dries Up

LIV players could be seeking a return to the PGA Tour.

Saudi PIF Drops Al-Hilal Soccer Team Amid Sports Pivot

The PIF is reportedly considering an exit from LIV Golf. 

Featured Today

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
blake griffin
April 14, 2026

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.

Ex-Alabama Player Used NFL Disguises in $20M Fraud, Feds Say

Prosecutors say Luther Davis posed as three NFL players.
Apr 8, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu (52) hits a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning at Fenway Park.
April 14, 2026

Red Sox Say Fans Whiffed With ‘Junk Fees’ Lawsuit

“Plaintiffs were not deceived,” the team argues in a new filing.
April 16, 2026

Damon Jones Will Plead Guilty in NBA Betting Case

Jones will appear at a hearing April 28 in Brooklyn.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) fumbles as he is sacked by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) in the second half in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium
April 10, 2026

StubHub to Pay $10M to Settle FTC Case Over NFL Ticket Fees

The company was charged with purposely delaying compliance with a rule.
NFL: Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders
April 9, 2026

Top Sports Attorneys Command $10M Salaries Amid Poaching Frenzy

“The transfer portal is open for sports lawyers.”
In this photo illustration, a mobile device displays the Kalshi logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the prediction market platform in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto)
April 6, 2026

Court Keeps Kalshi’s Sports Contracts Live in New Jersey

An appeals court handed Kalshi a big preliminary victory.
exclusive
April 4, 2026

Caleb Williams Didn’t Mean to Start an ‘Iceman’ Fight

“It’s all respect” to NBA legend George “Iceman” Gervin, Williams told FOS.