LIV Golf

In what is sure to be the first of many landmark legal battles between LIV Golf, its players and the PGA Tour, Judge Beth Labson Freeman ruled that Talor ...

The Australian, who is also the reigning Players Champion, is said to have signed a deal worth in excess of $100m and will tee it up in Boston next month. He later clarified his comments, saying his source was from talking to other players, not Smith and Leishman. The full trial is expected to begin a few months later in August 2023.

British newspaper The Telegraph claim Smith has signed a deal to jump ship. Fellow Australian Pro Cameron Percy also hinted in a radio interview Smith and Marc ...

Smith responded to the reports when asked about a potential move, saying he’ll be the one to announce his plans for the future. British newspaper The Telegraph claim Smith has signed a deal to jump ship. Golfer Cameron Smith is refusing to deny reports that he will join the LIV golf tour.

Open champion Cameron Smith has refused to comment on reports that he has agreed to join the LIV golf tour, but did not deny them either.

I'm here to win the FedEx Cup play-offs." "Like I said, I'm here to play the FedEx Cup play-offs. "That's all I'm here for.

A federal judge in California has ruled Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford, who joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf, will not be able to compete in the ...

“They made a business decision to receive money,” PGA Tour lawyer Elliot Peters argued during the hearing. “I do agree with the defendants [the PGA Tour] that those losses were well known to the players at the time and clearly monetized.” Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Cameron Smith failed to deny rumours linking him with a move to the controversial LIV Golf and said news on his future would not come from Cam Percy.

I'm here to play the FedExCup Playoffs, that has been my focus the last week and a half." The more and more you look into it, some people don't care, some people have got a conscience and do care. The Australian said any news about his future would come from him and not fellow countryman Cam Percy, who claimed that Smith is moving to the rebel series.

Open champion Cam Smith gave his reaction to reports he has signed a $100 million deal with LIV Golf.

"I'm here to play the FedExCup Playoffs. That's been my focus the last week and a half, that's what I'm here to do, I'm here to win the FedExCup Playoffs. And like I said, it will come from me, it won't come from Cameron Percy.” Smith has been rumoured to be on the verge of a move to the Saudi-backed breakaway tour for several months, and refused to rule out the possibility immediately after lifting the Claret Jug in St Andrews. Open champion Cam Smith refused to comment on reports he has signed a $100 million deal with LIV Golf.

THREE LIV GOLFERS had brought a lawsuit against the PGA Tour as part of an antitrust action.

A US Judge has sided with the PGA Tour after three LIV Golf tried to gain a temporary restraining order in an attempt to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs starting this week. But the Australian golfer refused to confirm or deny whether he has already signed with LIV Golf. "I do agree with the defendants [the PGA Tour] that those losses were well known to the players at the time and clearly monetised."

A US federal judge has denied a request by three golfers on the LIV Golf tour for a temporary restraining order that would have allowed them to compete in ...

Anyone that’s read the PGA Tour handbook or abided by the rules and regulations, that would feel very unfair to them." I don’t begrudge anyone for going to play LIV and taking guaranteed money. We can all move forward and not have that sideshow going on for the next few weeks, which is nice."

Cameron Smith has vowed he will come forward when he has any announcement to make on his future, alt...

"So, it's actually made the golf part of it way more enjoyable. "That's sort of how it played out, and I think everyone that has abided by the rules was... Yeah, it's become a little more personal because of that." "If anything, it's probably helped my golf, just because I can get out there and I can not think about it and compartmentalise everything and maybe enjoy competing a little bit more – or at least appreciate it a little bit more with everything else that's going on." "Not really," McIlroy replied, but he does feel his game has somehow benefited from his being at the centre of a storm when off the course. "And now that that has happened, I think it just lets us focus on the important stuff, which is the golf, and we can all move forward and not have that sideshow going on for the next few weeks, which is nice."

US District Court Judge Beth Freeman denied three LIV Golf Tour players a temporary restraining order to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs this week.

Each plaintiff would've been in good shape to at least reach the BMW Championship which is cut to a 70-man field after the FedEx St. Jude Championship this week. Permission has essentially been granted for the end-of-season events to take place without their participation. All the spots for the Saudi-backed series' second season have been taken. One of the lawyers representing LIV Golf revealed that the 48 players for the 2023 LIV Golf season are set. The first legal battle between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Tour took place in California on Tuesday and the verdict went in favour of the former. The court hearing lasted approximately two hours in San Jose and apart from the concluding verdict, there were a number of revelations to come from the court which represent significant developments in the public knowledge of the LIV Golf schedule.

The lawsuit hearing brought by 11 LIV Golf players against the PGA Tour has raised confusion on contract terms.

That contradicts what was previously believed – namely that the prize money players win is in addition to their contracts. Prior to the second LIV Golf Invitational Series event in Portland, Oregon, new signings Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez were asked about the specifics of their contracts. A noteworthy admission that LIV previously denied."

Three golfers who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series will not be able to play in the PGA Tour's season-ending FedEx Cup Playoffs after losing their ...

"Like I said, I'm here to play the FedExCup Playoffs, that's been my focus for the last week and a half. We missed a year because of Covid and it's something that I look forward to being a part of." "I'm a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it will be said by me." The other six who joined LIV Golf are not asking to play in the Tour's post-season. "We're disappointed that Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones won't be allowed to play golf," LIV said in a statement. "This is the holy grail because everybody wants to compete in and prevail in major championships, but it's not just the majors," Walters said.

Three golfers on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series have been unsuccessful in a legal challenge to allow them to play in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs, ...

The three players are among a group of 11, including American Phil Mickelson and England's Ian Poulter, who had launched an antitrust legal challenge to a PGA Tour ban. The PGA Tour has suspended all players who have signed up to compete in LIV events. LIV Golf trio's bid to play in PGA Tour event rejected by California court

On Tuesday Cameron Percy suggested his fellow Australians Smith and Marc Leishman had agreed to join the controversial Saudi-backed series. Reports suggested ...

I’m here to win the FedEx Cup play-offs.” “Like I said, I’m here to play the FedEx Cup play-offs. “That’s all I’m here for.

Courtroom reveal exposes damning side to high-paying LIV Golf contracts.

“We just wanted to, on the record, it’s in addition to. “The prize purses are in addition to. When Brooks Koepka was pressed at the LIV tournament outside Portland, Ore., last month on whether a player’s winnings come out of the signing bonus, the four-time major champion said, “That’s not — no. That means a $4 million first-place winner’s check would essentially amount to money a player has already been paid for signing with the rival faction. “I just wanted to address [the] question earlier when you were asking about the prize purses and if they are in addition to the contracts,” she said. At the end of the press conference in Portland, a LIV official in Portland tried to clear up the matter at the time.

CAMERON SMITH has refused to deny his £118million deal to join the controversial LIV Golf series which would result in a PGA ban.

The Telegraph have reported that Smith has signed a deal worth £118million with Saudi-backed LIV Golf and will make his debut in the series at Boston next month. Fellow Australian Cam Percy told RSN Radio that Smith along with fellow Australian Marc Leishman have already joined the LIV Golf series. Open champion Cameron Smith has deflected questions about his deal to join the LIV Golf series, but in doing so failed to deny the rumours are true.

Cam Smith is reportedly joining LIV Golf, but he refused to confirm those reports before the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs this week.

And, currently ranked No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings, he has a better chance than most. It could also prove to be his last. This time, the focus is Cameron Smith.

LIV Golf boss Greg Norman has claimed it is 'too late' for stars to defect from the PGA Tour and join the lucrative breakaway tour bankrolled by the Saudi ...

The Australian remained coy over his links to LIV after he claimed the Claret Jug at the 150th edition of The Open - but compatriot Cam Percy admitted it was a done deal. “It’s interesting, we’re still getting calls from agents of top-40 players in the world wanting to join LIV but it’s too late now. “The more and more you look into it, some people don’t care – some people have got a conscience and do care. The Australian believes it is ‘too late’ for any more names to switch, although this will likely not be before the acquisition of Smith. Several of the world’s most prominent players have decided to switch to LIV Golf, including the likes of Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson. He said: “There will be more player announcements before [the FedEx Cup Playoffs]. But we’re set on the maximum amount of players.

Cameron Smith has had one heck of a year on the PGA Tour. He won in a thriller in Maui back in January. He won the Players Championship in March with some gutsy ...

If he has in fact signed the deal then he should have said that he is going to LIV and let the distractions and everything else that would follow to just happen. Look, Smith has every right in the world to go to LIV. It would be an absolute bummer if he did and it would stink for professional golf but it’s a decision that he can make. Reports came out yesterday that Smith has signed to a $100 million deal with LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded golf league that had a rough day in court yesterday afternoon. And then last month he won the 150th Open Championship with one of the best final rounds in major championship history. Yesterday he had the chance to step up to the plate again and be an important figure in golf but instead he just backed away from it all with a “no comment” and a bunch of empty words about his immediate future and in doing so, tarnished a reputation that just a few weeks ago was one of the best in professional golf. Cameron Smith has had one heck of a year on the PGA Tour. He won in a thriller in Maui back in January. He won the Players Championship in March with some gutsy shots down the stretch.

The International Series debuted at Black Mountain Golf Club in Thailand before Slaley Hall played host to the first Asian Tour-sanctioned event on English soil ...

The total prize purse for the league will jump to an enormous $405m, a huge increase on the $225m available this year. LIV Golf is now reportedly set to bring the International Series to the birthplace of CEO, Greg Norman, in 2023 with the introduction of two events. The International Series debuted at Black Mountain Golf Club in Thailand before Slaley Hall played host to the first Asian Tour-sanctioned event on English soil.

Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones are barred from the PGA event but that might not deter Smith who has been offered a reported £81.7m to join the ...

The purpose of LIV Golf is to affect a trick of the light, to alter perceptions, to shift the gaze from a medieval justice system and a sinister disdain for human rights. LIV Golf does not have to balance the books because the principal point is not to turn a profit, even though the Saudis insist it will. Smith was one of thePGA Tourstars to gain an exemption to play at the Saudi Invitational in more convivial times when Saudi cash and the principal power brokers in the game were more readily aligned. LIV Golf is one part of a state project to reposition Saudi Arabia in the geopolitical sphere. The Saudis have committed an initial $3bn (£2.5bn) to the golf project. Were Smith to win he would bank $18m (£14.7m), the biggest cheque in the history of the game. The price of landing Smith will have grown a tad now that he is a major winner, a live fish so to speak. The more so as the play-off prize pot has been bounced by $15m (£12.2m) to $75m (£61.4m) in response to the Saudi threat. World No 2 Cameron Smith, crowned champion golfer of the year at The Open last month, is reportedly the latest acquisition to the Saudi series, a development that was put to him on Tuesday in Boston. Smith flat-batted the inquiry in a manner so practiced he could hardly have conveyed his intentions more forcibly if he had admitted them outright. Plus there is among the World Ranking board constituents, including the owners of the four majors – the R&A, USGA, PGA of America and Augusta National – a heap of resistance to the perversion of the landscape by aggressive entrants seeking to destroy established structures on the contradictory premise of “growing the game”. In a courtroom in San Jose, golf truly entered the theatre of the absurd. Judge Freeman pointed out that golfers choosing to leave one lucrative tour for even more money with a rival did not meet the test of irreparable harm.

Golfer Cam Smith has reportedly signed a $100M+ deal to join LIV Golf in a "major coup," as the Open Championship winner and World No.

The lure for those golfers would be to "have several tournaments to play in their homeland" in addition to the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship, which are both sanctioned by the DP World Tour. The LIV event in Sydney in April will "feature 48 of the world’s best players playing in 12 franchised teams," and the International Series would "comprise of a mixture of Asian Tour regulars" ( AUSTRALIANGOLFDIGEST.com, 8/10). A true world tour where all the top players could come and play on a regular basis and play for big money in countries which can’t necessarily raise the huge amount of money required" ( SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/10). SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards, such as Forty Under 40, Game Changers and others. With a strong next three weeks, it is "feasible that he could end up winning the PGA Tour Player of the Year" ( CBSSPORTS.com, 8/9). If he were to join LIV before then, he would "be ineligible to compete there" ( Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 8/10). CBSSPORTS.com's Kyle Porter notes along with the Open, Smith also "took down this year's Player's Championship in March, the PGA Tour's flagship event." I’m here to play the FedExCup Playoffs. That’s been my focus the last week and a half, that’s what I’m here to do -- I’m here to win the FedExCup Playoffs" ( London TELEGRAPH, 8/10). In Memphis, Mark Giannotto notes Smith did note that he "still plans to play in the Presidents Cup on Sept. 20-25."

Three LIV players will not be competing in this week's first FedEx Cup playoffs event, and McIlroy said the focus can now return to golf and not the ...

It was a good day for the Tour and for the majority of the membership yesterday.’’ “I mean, it's become a little more personal because of that.’’ If that's your prerogative and what you want to do, totally fine. “Again, I don't begrudge anyone for going over to play LIV or taking guaranteed money. We can all move forward and not have that sideshow going on for the next few weeks, which is nice.’’ Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau are part of the suit, which is not expected to be heard until next year.

Rory McIlroy has welcomed the decision of a federal judge to rule against three Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series players who had sought a temporary restraining ...

"Like I said, I'm here to play the FedExCup Playoffs, that's been my focus for the last week and a half. We missed a year because of Covid and it's something that I look forward to being a part of." "I'm a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it will be said by me." The other six who joined LIV Golf are not asking to play in the tour's postseason. "This is the holy grail because everybody wants to compete in and prevail in major championships, but it's not just the majors," Walters said. "We're disappointed that Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones won't be allowed to play golf," LIV said in a statement. "I think it's a huge problem," Peters said. We can all move forward and not have that sideshow going on for the next few weeks, which is nice." It's made the golf more enjoyable; if anything it has probably helped my golf." "I'm ready for the LIV golfers to go ahead and play against guys on the PGA Tour. I'm pretty sure we can hold our own," he said. Peters said lifting the suspensions of the golfers and allowing them to play would change the status quo for the PGA Tour and give them a fabulous platform to promote the LIV tour while competing in a PGA event. "I don't feel like it's my job to be up here and sticking up for the PGA Tour or being a spokesperson, it's just the role I have found myself in," he stated.

Golfers Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas agreed with a judge's decision to deny three LIV Golf members from participating in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs ...

"It's like you birdied the first hole, but you've still got 17 holes to go." "It's unfortunately just taking up the golf world a little bit and taking away from great storylines," Thomas said. There also will probably be more PGA Tour members leaving for lucrative signing bonuses and bigger purses on the LIV Golf circuit. She scheduled a jury trial in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, for September 2023. "I mean, the most money that's ever been earned and winning the FedEx Cup by a mile, I'm sure there weren't as many questions about that as there should have been. "Again, I don't begrudge anyone for going over to play LIV or taking guaranteed money.

A lawyer for LIV Golf during Tuesday's temporary restraining order hearing in US District Court in San Jose made a statement that called into question the ...

For their part, LIV Golf maintains they are telling the truth. “The prize purses are in addition to,” the representative said. When a media member asked Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez the veracity of the claim during their introductory press conference at the LIV Golf Invitational outside Portland, Oregon, later that month, a LIV Golf representative shot down Chamblee’s report.

Cameron Young, who has finished runner-up five times on the PGA Tour this season, may be leaving the U.S. circuit for LIV Golf.

He missed the cut at the Masters and the U.S. Open but tied for third at the PGA Championship before placing second behind Smith at the British last month. He did not have status on any professional tour last spring but played his way onto the Korn Ferry Tour and won twice there in 2021. The likely PGA Tour Rookie of the Year was linked to the upstart LIV Golf tour by The Times UK on Wednesday, but a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue said the 25-year-old isn’t likely to join the Saudi-backed league.

The 25-year-old American is reportedly the latest target of the Saudi-backed venture.

If Young does opt for a career with LIV Golf, he will join an increasingly impressive roster that already features the likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed. Next year, LIV Golf plans to turn the Series into a fully fledged $405m League over 14 tournaments featuring promotion and relegation. In that sense, such a capture would be viewed similarly to another reported signing – 28-year-old World No.2 Cameron Smith. Aged just 25, he is also entering the prime years of his career.

Rory McIlroy has been one of the strongest backers of the PGA Tour in the tour's ongoing feud with LIV Golf.

The restraining order request from Gooch, Swafford, and Jones was a subset of an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour by 11 LIV Golf members. “That's sort of how it played out and I think everyone that has abided by the rules was—again, it's like there's such a long way to go. All members who have participated in LIV events have been suspended indefinitely, with some of them resigning their PGA Tour membership.

McIlroy reveals big issue that makes LIV Golf controversy 'more personal' as Aussie barred.

I may have an opinion here or there, but at the end of the day, once it gets to this point, it’s way out of my hands in terms of getting to lawyers and judges and things of that nature. You don’t need to bring it onto our tour.” As a PGA Tour board member, McIlroy has even-handedly fielded questions about LIV Golf -- spearheaded by Australian Greg Norman -- for months. “The only thing I really care about is this golf tournament and trying to play well and trying to win the FedExCup,” Thomas said. The fact that Australian Matt Jones and Americans Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford weren’t given temporary relief from their suspensions to compete in the playoffs was, McIlroy said, “a good day for the Tour and for the majority of the membership.” “I certainly have a little more respect for the guys that haven’t put their names to the suit,” McIlroy said.

Cameron Young was linked to LIV Golf Wednesday by The Times UK, but the 25-year-old feels 'strongly inclined' to stay with the PGA Tour.

He missed the cut at the Masters and the U.S. Open but tied for third at the PGA Championship before placing second behind Smith at the British last month. He did not have status on any professional tour last spring but played his way onto the Korn Ferry Tour and won twice there in 2021. The likely PGA Tour Rookie of the Year was linked to the upstart LIV Golf tour by The Times UK on Wednesday, but a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue said the 25-year-old isn’t likely to join the Saudi-backed league.

Why $140m Smith coup could be the 'tipping' point in golf's ugly civil war — World View.

“The signing of Smith is a significant riposte to that narrative. When LIV expands into a 14-tournament league next year, it is reportedly scheduled to stop in Sydney in April, where Smith is expected to feature in an all-Australian team.” “It’s destabilising the fabric of professional golf. “It has been very easy up until now to dismiss the gimmicks of LIV’s format — featuring shotgun starts, 54 holes and no cuts — as a watered-down exhibition lacking the essentials of elite competition. At one level, his departure in his prime demonstrates the scale of the Saudis’ ambitions. With his talent in the fullest bloom, he deserves to be playing in front of the largest galleries, for the highest stakes. He continued: “Smith remains LIV’s biggest coup to date and also symbolises another aspect of their revolt that could bring considerable success. “(Henrick) Stenson, a 46-year-old who has failed to reach the weekend in seven of his last nine majors, is the type of player he should be beating for breakfast. As he gave his acceptance speech on the 18th green at St Andrews, the Claret Jug in his hand, the quaver in his voice suggested he was genuinely overwhelmed. If he takes home the maximum loot of £3.93 million on his LIV debut in Boston next month, he would eclipse even the £2.98 million he earned at the Players Championship in May, in what was then the richest prize ever offered by a single golf tournament. It is a realm with all the money but none of the prestige. Even the winner himself did not look unduly bothered,” Brown wrote in The Telegraph.