LONG WAIT FOR LIV GOLF PLAYER LAWSUIT

August 19, 2022

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LIV golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Australian Matt Jones, who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour will have to wait almost 16 months before the case goes to trial.

U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman on Thursday set the trial for January 8, 2024.

Depending on whether LIV lawyers proceed with a preliminary injunction – the judge said she had room on her schedule in late September or early October – that means PGA Tour players who have been suspended for signing with the rival league could go through another year of not being allowed at PGA Tour events.

Freeman last week denied a temporary restraining order sought by Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Jones who wanted to compete in the PGA Tour’s post-season.

LIV lawyers wanted a trial date for August 7, 2023, arguing the case needed to be expedited.

PGA Tour attorneys said it was not reasonable to adequately prepare and noted it coincided with the start of the FedExCup Playoffs and made it difficult for PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and other executives whose testimony likely would be required.

Freeman set a July 23, 2023, date for summary judgment, at which point the Tour is likely to ask that the case be dismissed.

The lawsuit was filed two weeks ago by 11 players, although Carlos Ortiz has asked his name be removed from the lawsuit and LIV attorneys indicated it would need discovery material from nine players, indicating another might have dropped out of the lawsuit.