Article Author:
Reuters
On Tuesday, a federal judge denied requests by three golfers on the LIV Golf Tour for a temporary restraining order in order to qualify for the PGA Tour's lucrative FedExCup playoffs, which begin Thursday.
Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford, who have been suspended from his PGA Tour for participating in a Saudi-backed breakaway league, have been suspended from the three-tournament playoffs by an emergency suspension. I hope it opens up a way to play.
But U.S. District Judge Beth Labso Freeman said the players knew the potential consequences of participating in rival circuits. She said they were fully compensated by the LIV and their lawyers failed to prove irreparable damage.
"Today's news Players' fans and partners can now focus on what really matters in the next three weeks: the best players in the world competing in the FedEx Cup playoffs," said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monaghan in a letter to the players. In it he said:
LIV Golf said it was "disappointed" that the trio were denied entry to the playoffs and "not allowed to play golf."
"Banning golfers doesn't help anyone."
Earlier Tuesday, world number one Scotty Schaeffler said the players' lawsuit " “I feel frustrated,” he said.
His $255 million LIV series is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Critics say it is a means to improve the country's image in the face of criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
World No. 2 Cameron Smith has signed a contract worth more than $100 million to join the LIV series, the British Telegraph reported Tuesday. (Reporting by Lori Carroll, Los Angeles; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
