LOS ANGELES — The PGA Tour and LIV Golf officially decided to end their legal dispute on Friday.
The Tour, LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund have asked a federal judge in California to dismiss their lawsuit against each other. Judge Beth Labson Freeman is expected to approve the request, which was filed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled in the future.
Once it’s official, it will mark the final major step the two leagues, as well as the DP World Tour, have taken to form a partnership after months of fighting in the sport.
Just before the filings, The New York Times filed a motion asking the court to unseal all records of the case. The organization cited a “substantial and legitimate public interest in these proceedings and their outcome”. It’s unclear if Judge Labson Freeman will approve the Times’ request, or when she will rule on either motion.
The legal battle between the Tour and LIV Golf began in August after several LIV Golf players and the league filed a lawsuit against the Tour on charges of violating antitrust laws. The Tour then filed a countersuit, alleging that LIV interfered with its existing player contracts. A trial was not expected until at least 2024.
Commissioner of the Tour and the DP World Tour last week, which shocked almost the whole sport. Almost all players learned of the news when it was announced and announced. Monahan had been very against the controversial Saudi-backed league from the start – as were players like Rory McIlroy, who was also unhappy with the announcement – and even once invoked the 11 terrorist attacks. September when he pleaded for his league on LIV Golf.
and stepped away from his day-to-day role with the Tour.
Although the partnership has been announced, many questions remain about its future. at the Los Angeles Country Club know almost nothing of the details regarding the joint venture, and several investigations have been launched into its formation. A, Senator Richard Blumenthal announced Monday. to investigate the merger over antitrust issues this week, and the merger over similar issues.
While the future of the new venture looks anything but stable at this point, Friday’s filing is a major step for the two leagues to at least end their feud on paper. And, perhaps more importantly, it would keep the legal battle closed if things didn’t work out down the road.