The PGA Tour scored a victory in the courtroom on Tuesday as it relates to LIV Golf Series players participating in the upcoming FedEx Cup Playoffs.
LIV golfers had attempted to file a temporary restraining order against the PGA Tour, which would have allowed them to participate in the playoffs, which open on Thursday with the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. But judge Beth Labson Freeman ruled against them, saying “I find the plaintiffs have not established irreparable harm.”
Judge rules against LIV. Players will not be allowed to play the FedEx Cup Playoffs. "I find the plaintiffs have not established irreparable harm." Cites that LIV contracts took into account what would be lost on the PGA Tour.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 9, 2022
LIV Golf has been a hot-button issue since well before its first event teed off. This ruling was no different, with many in the golf world weighing in on judge Labson Freeman’s ruling.
Justice https://t.co/jerJUdgoaw
— Dan Riccio (@danriccio_) August 9, 2022
Big OOF https://t.co/KJuxMeApjp
— Robyn Hearn (@robynehearn) August 9, 2022
PGA Tour 1, Liv Golfers 0.
Judge denies temporary restraining order that would allow three golfers from being able to be in the FedEx Playoffs.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 9, 2022
Court is adjourned. TRO denied. Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones won't be playing in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
An early win for the PGA Tour. A loss for delightfully awkward pairings in Memphis.
So far, the LIV guys can't have their cake AND eat it too. More to come!
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) August 9, 2022
Where the hell was this LIV vs PGA Tour judge in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial?
— Drew Stoltz (@thesleezyman) August 9, 2022
It’s been a busy day in this ongoing battle. LIV Golf reportedly poached British Open champion Cameron Smith away. It was also reported that the high initial contracts and purses in the individual LIV events aren’t quite as lucrative as they initially seemed.
It’s hard to feel too much sympathy for the LIV golfers here. Casual golf fans understood that being restricted from PGA Tour events was a drawback of joining LIV Golf. Certainly the golfers knew that this was the case.
The majors will remain different, as those are not operated by the PGA Tour. But as time goes by and these golfers begin to lose many of their qualifying methods for majors, the LIV Golfers playing in those four events will dwindle, as well.
Ultimately, this isn’t the final battle. Unless an agreement is ultimately reached, we’ll undoubtedly see future court fights in the future. But the PGA Tour definitely has a big win not only with this battle but also with the precedent it sets for future fights.
[Kyle Porter on Twitter]
