The PGA on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan, governor of the fund that funds the LIV Golf Series.
The lawsuit was filed under seal in federal court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan. PGA lawyers have filed 50 exhibits and a proposed order for a restraining motion.
Sources told ESPN on Friday that PGA attorneys are trying to get a federal judge to issue a restraining motion that would compel Al-Rumayyan to appear in another federal lawsuit in California involving the PGA and LIV. .
The restraining motion would also compel the Public Investment Fund, which is believed to be worth more than $500 billion, to release documents to PGA attorneys as part of the disclosure process.
Mr Al-Rumayyan is also chairman of English football club Newcastle United and oil company Saudi Aramco.
On September 29, the PGA filed a countersuit against LIV, accusing it of interfering with its player contracts. PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan has suspended more than 30 players for playing LIV tournaments without issuing a conflict of interest statement.
Eleven LIV players filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the PGA on Aug. 3, accusing the Tour of using its monopoly powers to crush competition. Three players who were suspended by the circuit, Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Jones and Peter Uihlein, are still plaintiffs in this case, as well as the LIV. Eight other players, including six-time major champion Phil Mickelson, had been plaintiffs, but asked a judge to remove them from the case.
The US Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the PGA’s alleged monopolistic actions in its dealings with LIV and its players, allegations which the Tour has denied.
