PGA Tour’s Battle With LIV Golf Draws Federal Antitrust Probe; Tiger Woods Slams New League

Federal authorities are probing the PGA Tour over possible anticompetitive behavior involving the controversial LIV Golf tour, according to the New York Times.

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The U.S. Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation into the PGA Tour’s dealings with LIV Golf Invitational Series, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and continues to pick up professional golfers from the majors.

The first LIV Golf Invitational Series started on June 9 at the Centurion Club near London. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, finances LIV Golf owner LIV Golf Investments. Its CEO is retired U.S. golfing legend Greg Norman.

LIV Golf’s name refers to the number 54, which is the number of holes played at its events. Former U.S. golf champions Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka have each received upfront guaranteed deals worth more than $100 million, ESPN reports.

On Monday, Tiger Woods — who reportedly turned down a deal of almost $1 billion to play for LIV Golf — criticized the new league and its new recruits.

“I disagree with it,” Woods said, according to ESPN. “I think that what they’ve done is turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.”

“What these players are doing for guaranteed money … what is the incentive to practice?” he continued. “What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money upfront and playing a few events and playing 54 holes.”

Another one of golf’s most recognized players in history, Jack Nicklaus, reportedly said he didn’t agree with LIV Golf either.

“Greg Norman is an icon in the game of golf,” he told Golfweek. “He’s a great player. We’ve been friends for a long time, and regardless of what happens, he’s going to remain a friend. Unfortunately, he and I just don’t see eye to eye in what’s going on. I’ll basically leave it at that.”

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