Judge Denies Request For Restraining Order That Would Have Enabled LIV Golfers to Play in FedEx Cup Playoffs
LOJSports
|
Today the PGA nabbed a major legal victory in a suit by golfers against the tour alleging antitrust violations and anticompetitive behavior.
Judge Beth Labson Freeman of the U.S. District Court of Northern California denied a motion for a temporary restraining order that would have allowed three golfers to compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones are all eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs based on standings. But the three players are blocked by the PGA from participating in the playoffs.
The suspension came after the golfers joined the competing LIV Golf League, which the PGA called a violation of its tournament rules.
The FedEx Playoffs begin this week in Tennessee.
The golfers argued that they would be irreparably harmed, particularly financially harmed by the PGA Tour’s decision to suspend them.
Judge Freeman reasoned that the players would not sustain financial harm because their new contracts with LIV factored in wages lost from leaving the PGA Tour.
The court will now have to evaluate the PGA’s decision to suspend the players and decide whether the behavior was predatory and for an anticompetitive purpose.
Categorized:Breaking News More The Latest Top Stories
