MEMPHIS (Tenn.) — A federal judge denied a temporary restraining or to three golfers who sought to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. They had previously left the PGA Tour to compete in the new LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The players Talor Gooch, Matt JonesAnd Hudson Swafford, were seeking relief in order to participate at the first leg, at this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, TPC Southwind.
FedEx St. Jude Championship: Only the top 125 FedEx Cup-ranked players are eligible to compete. Gooch is 20th, Jones is 65th, and Swafford is67th. Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner, suspended the players after they participated in LIV Golf tournaments that were not conflicting with the tours releases.
U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman of the Northern District of California ruled that LIV players had not made their case of irreparable injury and agreed with the tour that the players request for emergency relief was of their making.
It appears to court that the LIV contract, negotiated and consummated by the parties, were based on players calculation of what it would be leaving behind as well as the amount the players would have to monetize to make up those losses, Freeman stated in her ruling. I agree with the defendants. [the PGA Tour]These losses were well known to players at the time, and clearly monetized.
Freeman stated that LIV Golf gives suspended players the chance to play elite American golf with guaranteed pay. In fact, the evidence suggests that they will earn more than they could reasonably expect to in a reasonable time under the PGA. [Tour].
Elliot Peters, a PGA Tour lawyer, stated that they made a business decision to accept money. They have made in two months more money that theyve ever made at the PGA Tour. They have already been compensated for their complaining.
LIV Golf officials expressed disappointment at Freeman’s decision in a statement. The statement stated that No one gains from banning golfers playing.
The PGA Tour released a statement saying, With today’s news, players, fans, and partners are now able to focus on what really mattered over the next three week: the best players competing in the FedExCup Playoffs. It caps off an incredibly exciting season with the crowning FedExCup champion at TOUR Championship.
Gooch, Jones, Swafford and eight additional LIV Golf players, Phil MickelsonAnd Bryson DeChambeau, filed an Antitrust Suit against the PGA Tour in Federal Court last week.
Freeman stated to attorneys that September 2023 would mark her courts first availability for a case on the antitrust suit. The trial could be delayed to 2025 if that date is not possible. This is significant because LIV golfers are not currently receiving Official World Golf Ranking Points for LIV events. LIV Golf submitted a recent application to OWGR.