PGA Tour suing LIV Golf’s Saudi backers in federal court docket

The PGA Tour filed a federal civil lawsuit Thursday towards Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund and Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, governor of the fund that funds LIV Golf, in response to court docket data.

The criticism was filed beneath seal within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan. The PGA Tour’s attorneys filed 50 reveals and a proposed order for a movement to compel.

Sources informed ESPN on Friday that the PGA Tour’s attorneys try to acquire a movement to compel from a federal decide that may require Al-Rumayyan to be deposed as a part of one other federal lawsuit in California involving the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

The movement to compel would additionally require the Public Funding Fund, which is reportedly value greater than $500 billion, to launch paperwork to PGA Tour attorneys by discovery.

Al-Rumayyan can also be chairman of the English soccer membership Newcastle United and the Saudi-owned petroleum firm Saudi Aramco.

On Sept. 29, the PGA Tour filed a countersuit towards LIV Golf, accusing it of interfering with its contracts with gamers. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has suspended greater than 30 gamers for competing in LIV Golf tournaments with out conflicting-event releases.

Eleven LIV Golf gamers filed a federal antitrust lawsuit towards the PGA Tour on Aug. 3, accusing the tour of utilizing its monopoly powers to squash competitors. Three gamers who have been suspended by the tour, Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Jones and Peter Uihlein, are nonetheless plaintiffs in that case, together with LIV Golf. Eight different gamers, together with six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, had been plaintiffs however requested a decide to be faraway from the case.

The U.S. Division of Justice has opened an investigation into the PGA Tour’s alleged monopolistic actions in coping with LIV Golf and its gamers — allegations the tour has denied.