The PGA Tour suspended all of its members who have signed up to play in the controversial LIV Golf Series. Now, the suspended players are filing a lawsuit against the Tour for the suspension. They argue that the PGA Tour is trying to harm their career. Also on the list of golfers filing the lawsuit is 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.
“The Tour’s conduct serves no purpose other than to cause harm to players and foreclose the entry of the first meaningful competitive threat the Tour has faced in decades,” the lawsuit states.
“The purpose of this action is to strike down the PGA Tour’s anti-competitive rules and practices that prevent these independent-contractor golfers from playing when and where they choose.”
Jay Monahan of the PGA said that the organization is not backing down.
“These suspended players - who are now Saudi Golf League employees - have walked away from the Tour and now want back in,” he said.
“It’s an attempt to use the Tour platform to promote themselves and to free ride on your benefits and efforts.”
“To allow re-entry into our events compromises the Tour and the competition, to the detriment of our organization, our players, our partners, and our fans.”
“The lawsuit they have filed somehow expects us to believe the opposite, which is why we intend to make our case clearly and vigorously.”
The PGA Tour suspended the players back in June but they were still allowed to play in the US Open and the Open Championship. Aside from Mickelson, players Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, and Sergio Garcia were also suspended.
Poulter was suspended by the DP World Tour, which followed the PGA Tour’s lead.
The other plaintiffs against the PGA include Carlos Ortiz, Peter Uihlein, Jason Kokrak, Pat Perez, Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford, and Matt Jones.
Gooch, Swafford, and Jones are requesting to be allowed to play in the FedEx Cup playoffs.