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LIV Golf Antitrust

OpenFAST
Other
50+
Total Cases

Causation

LIV Golf players and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series allege the PGA Tour engaged in anticompetitive practices by suspending players who participated in LIV events, pressuring sponsors to boycott LIV, and threatening lifetime bans — all constituting unlawful restraint of trade under the Sherman Antitrust Act. Players allege lost earnings, endorsement opportunities, and career damage. The DOJ opened an antitrust investigation into the PGA Tour in 2022. The proposed PGA-LIV merger framework announced in June 2023 complicates pending claims but does not resolve individual player antitrust injuries.

Defendants

EntityRoleNote
PGA Tour, Inc.Alleged MonopolistPrimary defendant — accused of anticompetitive conduct against LIV Golf players
DP World Tour (European Tour)Co-ConspiratorSuspended LIV Golf participants in coordination with PGA Tour
Jay MonahanPGA Tour CommissionerNamed individually in some complaints for orchestrating player suspensions

Litigation Timeline

Jun 2022
PGA Tour suspends 17 players for competing in first LIV Golf event
Aug 2022
LIV Golf players file antitrust lawsuit in N.D. Cal.
Jun 2023
PGA Tour and LIV Golf announce merger framework agreement
Jan 2024
PGA-PIF (Saudi sovereign wealth fund) deal terms under negotiation
2025-2026
Merger negotiations ongoing; individual player antitrust claims unresolved

Intelligence Signals

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Key Facts

Status
active

Geographic Exposure

·N.D. Cal. (primary jurisdiction — LIV Golf LLC v. PGA Tour)
·Federal antitrust jurisdiction nationwide
·International implications — DP World Tour (EU jurisdiction)

Eligibility Criteria

  • Professional golfer suspended or banned by PGA Tour for participating in LIV Golf events
  • Player who lost endorsement deals due to PGA Tour pressure
  • LIV Golf entity alleging anticompetitive harm to business operations
  • Party demonstrating antitrust injury — lost earnings, market exclusion, or restraint of trade