The Greg Norman-led LIV Golf have received some unwanted news on the eve of the Masters at Augusta, with an arbitration panel ruling against them in a legal battle with the DP World Tour. The case came about when players requested ‘conflicting event’ releases from the DP Tour in order to play the inaugural LIV Golf event in Hemel Hempstead last June.
The requests were denied, but the players competed at Centurion Club anyway and were later fined PS100,000 (A$185,000) and suspended from the Scottish Open. Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding appealed against the decision – as well as the punishments – which were stayed pending an appeal, allowing the players to compete in DP World Tour events.
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The number of appellants then grew to 16 before Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Otaegui withdrew from the case, which was heard behind closed doors by Sports Resolutions UK. The panel heard five days of arguments from lawyers for a group of 12 LIV players and those representing the DP World Tour in February.
And according to a report in The Times on Tuesday, the panel has found in favour of the DP World Tour. An official announcement could potentially come during the first round of the Masters on Thursday. A spokesperson for the DP World Tour said: “Out of respect for the confidentiality of the process conducted by Sport Resolutions, we will make no comment on any aspect of the arbitration until the decision is formally announced.”
The PGA Tour is involved in a separate anti-trust lawsuit with LIV Golf and a handful of players who were suspended for playing on the Saudi-funded circuit. The Saudi government is believed to have poured $3 billion into the breakaway league, headed up by Aussie legend Norman
