Bryson DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones and Saudi-funded LIV Golf are now the sole plaintiffs in the suit, with trial not scheduled to start until January 2024; Mickelson said two weeks ago: “LIV Golf is here to stay.”
Last update: 09/27/22 5:01 pm
Phil Mickelson and three other LIV Golf players have withdrawn from the lawsuit against the PGA Tour
Phil Mickelson, the driving force among PGA Tour players in rival LIV Golf series, and three other players have asked a federal judge to remove their names from the antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Ian Poulter filed separately to have their names removed. That leaves just three players Bryson DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones and Saudi-funded LIV Golf as plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in early August.
The trial is not scheduled to begin until January 2024.
Mickelson’s decision was not a surprise. He had told him two weeks ago to SI.com that he no longer needed to be involved in the lawsuit now that LIV Golf has joined as a plaintiff.
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Phil Mickelson says divisive talk does the sport of golf no good and hopes both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf can come together for the benefit of the game.
“The only reason I’m staying is the damage, I really don’t want or need anything,” Mickelson said. “I think it’s important that players have the right to play when and where they want, when and where they qualify. And now that LIV is a part of that, that will be achieved if they win.”
LIV Golf already suffered a setback in court when US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman denied a temporary restraining order that sought to allow LIV Golf players to compete in the PGA Tour’s lucrative postseason.
Mickelson has been one of the top recruiters for LIV Golf and its leader, Greg Norman.
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Scottie Scheffler feels there is more talent on the PGA Tour after many players decided to join LIV Golf.
In an interview with Alan Shipnuck for his Mickelson biography, the six-time Grand Slam champion said he recruited three other top players for LIV Golf and paid lawyers to draft the proposed league’s operating agreement.
Mickelson was among the last players announced when LIV Golf and its $25 million purses began in early June. There have been five events so far, with the next two scheduled for October in Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
LIV Golf has 12 of the top 50 in the world ranking.
Patrick Reed dropped out of the top 50 this week, in part because LIV Golf does not receive world ranking points while his application is considered in the Official World Golf Ranking, a process that could take until next summer.
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Bryson DeChambeau believes people should give LIV Golf a try and says he couldn’t be happier with his decision to join the tour.
“The PGA Tour for the last 20 or 30 years has had all the best players in the world, that’s never going to be the case again,” Mickelson said two weeks ago. “LIV Golf is here to stay, and this kind of divisive discourse does no one any good.”
His hope was that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour would work together, which PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has said is unlikely to happen. The PGA Tour has suspended all members who have signed with LIV Golf for violating tour rules.