PGA Tour countersuit accuses LIV Golf of unfair tactics
The PGA Tour has filed a counterclaim against Saudi-funded LIV Golf accusing the rival league of inducing top players to breach PGA Tour contracts by claiming the tour could not enforce them. Mickelson said his involvement was no longer necessary with LIV Golf now suing the tour. LIV Golf has claimed in its lawsuit the PGA Tour has used monopoly power to try to squash competition and has unfairly suspended players. The PGA Tour has policies that keep members from playing the same week as a PGA Tour event without a release. In its response, the PGA Tour said LIV Golf's own business plan “demonstrates this is fiction.” The tour pointed to LIV Golf contracts that require them to play in all LIV Golf events and other agreements it claims are more restrictive than the tour's policies.
wftv.comRory McIlroy, LIV golfers in sight of leaders at Wentworth
Rory McIlroy is in there. The European tour's flagship event has been shortened to 54 holes after a day's play was canceled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Viktor Hovland and Soren Kjeldsen were tied for the lead on 12 under par Saturday at the end of the second round. Then came five players on 10 under — including Adrian Otaegui (65) and Talor Gooch (64), who both now play in the contentious LIV Golf series. “I felt my putting was really good,” McIlroy said after a 5-foot birdie putt at No.
wftv.comGooch has 1-shot lead over Niemann in LIV Golf Boston event
— (AP) — Talor Gooch had a 5-under 65 on a day of low scoring and most players wearing shorts, building a one-shot lead Saturday over newcomer Joaquin Niemann after two rounds of the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston. Johnson also has finished in the top 10 in all three LIV Golf events. Kim was 24 shots better with a 63 to match the low round of the day. “I’m sure in Bangkok and Jeddah we’ll all be in shorts,” Johnson said, referring to LIV Golf Invitational events in Asia later in the year. Phil Mickelson ended his streak of nine consecutive rounds in LIV Golf — and 13 overall including the U.S. Open and British Open — without breaking 70.
wftv.comJudge sets January 2024 trial for LIV Golf suit against tour
SAN JOSE, Calif. — (AP) — Players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf who have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour will be waiting nearly 16 months for the case to go to trial. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman on Thursday set the trial for Jan. 8, 2024. Depending on whether LIV attorneys proceed with a preliminary injunction — the judge said she had room on her schedule in late September or early October — that means PGA Tour players who have been suspended for signing with the rival league could go through another year of not being allowed at PGA Tour events. LIV attorneys had wanted a trial date for Aug. 7, 2023, arguing the case needed to be expedited. PGA Tour attorneys said it was not reasonable to adequately prepare and noted it coincided with the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs and make it difficult for PGA Tour Commissioner and other executives whose testimony likely would be required.
wftv.comFederal judge denies LIV golfers bid for PGA Tour postseason
On The Fringe Saudi League Golf FILE - Signage for LIV Golf is displayed during the pro-am round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, NJ., Thursday, July 28, 2022. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have illustrated with words what PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan got wrong. McIlroy said players leaving for Saudi-funded LIV Golf are taking the easy way out. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) (Seth Wenig)SAN JOSE, Calif. — (AP) — A federal judge in California has ruled three golfers who joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf will not be able to compete in the PGA Tour's postseason. Judge Beth Labson Freeman made her decision Tuesday afternoon in San Jose after attorneys for the sides each spoke for about an hour.
wftv.comPGA Tour says players knew consequences of joining LIV Golf
APTOPIX LIV Golf The "4 Aces" team celebrates with champagne after winning the team competition during a ceremony after the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., Sunday, July 31, 2022. The three players were not among the highest-sought players for Greg Norman's rival league, though they were among the initial group of players who signed with LIV Golf. Gooch was the only one among the top 50 in the world, mainly from his only PGA Tour win last November. Even though LIV Golf players have been suspended, they remain eligible for the FedEx Cup bonus package. Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia are among LIV Golf players who chose to resign their PGA Tour membership.
wftv.comPGA Tour responds to LIV's antitrust suit, looks to block players from playoffs
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Eleven players on the breakaway LIV Golf tour have filed an antitrust suit against the PGA Tour. On Monday morning, the PGA Tour responded, leaving no doubt about its stance and the likelihood of the players returning for the playoffs. "LIV is not a rational economic actor, competing fairly to start a golf tour," the Tour wrote. A similar complaint filed last month in Great Britain allowed several LIV players to compete in the Scottish Open prior to the Open Championship. The next LIV Golf event is scheduled for early September in Boston.
wftv.comLIV defectors in contention for claret jug at British Open
British Open Golf Dustin Johnson of the US after playing a birdie on the 16th hole during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. “Everybody, it feels like, is against us,” said Talor Gooch, one of the 24 LIV golfers playing at St. Andrews. There remains a distinct possibility — much to the chagrin of the R&A, no doubt — that a player from the LIV tour could be lifting the claret jug on Sunday evening. LIV players weren’t put up for official pre-tournament media duties, either. Mickelson was the most high-profile LIV player to miss the cut after shooting 77 to finish at 5 over for the week.
wftv.comBritish Open | Morikawa set to miss cut at St. Andrews
British Open Golf Collin Morikawa of the US after putting on the 16th green during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (Peter Morrison)ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):8:30 p.m. Defending British Open champion Collin Morikawa is set to miss the cut. ___5:30 p.m.Cameron Smith is producing a putting clinic to pull away from the field at the British Open. ___1:20 p.m.Dustin Johnson has made another great start to a British Open at St. Andrews.
wftv.comBritish Open | Smith leads after 6 birdies in 10 holes
British Open Golf Cameron Smith, of Australia, misses a putt on the 6th green during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant)ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):___4:25 p.m. The two Camerons are jostling for first place at the British Open. The sun is finally out, the scoring is low and some big names have climbed onto the leaderboard at the British Open. The American's exemption as a past champion ran out in 2020, the year the British Open was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
wftv.comBritish Open | Tiger Woods finishes 2nd round at 9 over
British Open Golf Tiger Woods of the US misses a putt on the 2nd green during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (Peter Morrison)ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):___3:20 p.m.Tiger Woods has finished what could be his last competitive round at a British Open on the Old Course. The sun is finally out, the scoring is low and some big names have climbed onto the leaderboard at the British Open. ___1:20 p.m.Dustin Johnson has made another great start to a British Open at St. Andrews. ___10:20 a.m.Tiger Woods is out on the course for his second round at the British Open.
wftv.comBritish Open | Sun is out and scoring is low at Old Course
British Open Golf Scottie Scheffler of the US plays from the 18th tee during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant)ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):___2:20 p.m. The sun is finally out, the scoring is low and some big names have climbed onto the leaderboard at the British Open. The American's exemption as a past champion ran out in 2020, the year the British Open was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. ___10:20 a.m.Tiger Woods is out on the course for his second round at the British Open.
wftv.com2022 British Open: LIV's Dustin Johnson takes lead into clubhouse
The 150th Open Championship - Day one ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: Dustin Johnson of the USA throws his ball to the crowd after finishing on the 18th during Day Two of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 15, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)We're headed for a fascinating weekend at the British Open. Johnson and Talor Gooch, also near the top of the leaderboard, are in effect answering those criticisms by playing as well as they are even after several weeks on the LIV tour. "Everybody, it feels like, is against us (on the LIV), and that's okay," said Gooch, who finished the day at -7. Johnson sidestepped the question of whether the criticism of LIV was motivating him in any way.
wftv.comGooch hoping this year's British Open won't be his last
British Open Golf Talor Gooch of the US plays from the 9th tee during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. Hopefully not, though,” Gooch said, adding he and former college teammate Wyndham Clark were discussing the situation over the last few days. “Hopefully this won’t be my last one.”On Wednesday, R&A chief Martin Slumbers spoke about the LIV series and threatened to change the British Open criteria, possibly making it more difficult for some players to gain entry to golf’s oldest championship. He made his British Open debut last year at Royal St. George’s, finishing in a tie for 33rd. Gooch isn't the only LIV player who has been doing well at St. Andrews this week.
wftv.comBritish Open | Johnson leads, Tiger Woods set to miss cut
British Open Golf Dustin Johnson of the US lines up a putt on the 16th green during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert)ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):___1:20 p.m.Dustin Johnson has made another great start to a British Open at St. Andrews. ___11:45 a.m.Mark Calcavecchia followed a time-honored tradition and stood on the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole to wave farewell at his last British Open. The American's exemption as a past champion ran out in 2020, the year the British Open was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. ___10:20 a.m.Tiger Woods is out on the course for his second round at the British Open.
wftv.comBritish Open | Dustin Johnson moves into share of lead
British Open Golf Dustin Johnson of the US watches his shot along the 11th fairway during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. ___11:45 a.m.Mark Calcavecchia followed a time-honored tradition and stood on the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole to wave farewell at his last British Open. The American's exemption as a past champion ran out in 2020, the year the British Open was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. ___10:20 a.m.Tiger Woods is out on the course for his second round at the British Open. The second round of the British Open began under a light rain.
wftv.comBritish Open | Hatton on the charge again at St. Andrews
British Open Golf Tyrrell Hatton, of England, after putting on the 5th green during the second round of the British Open golf championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert)ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):___11:20 a.m.Not for the first time, Tyrrell Hatton is on the charge at St. Andrews. Hatton is a two-time winner of the Dunhill Links Championship, a European tour event in Scotland that is partly staged at St. Andrews. ___10:20 a.m.Tiger Woods is out on the course for his second round at the British Open. The second round of the British Open began under a light rain.
wftv.comColumn: Biggest disruption of Saudi tour is words, not golf
The theme of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series is, “Golf, But Louder.” Money talks, loud enough for Dustin Johnson to get an offer he couldn't ignore, for Brooks Koepka to do an about-face within a week, for Pat Perez to be smiling after shooting 80. Talor Gooch got more attention for his words than anything he ever did on the golf course.
news.yahoo.comPGA shaping up as much different from previous 4 in Tulsa
This PGA Championship already feels so different from the previous four. He said he didn't care if it succeeded as long as it gave him leverage to make changes on the PGA Tour, and accused the PGA Tour of “obnoxious greed” while he played the Saudi International. Hovland knows the restored Southern Hills as well as anyone, not so much from his time at Oklahoma State but the fact the Norwegian star chose to make Stillwater home. Talor Gooch, Oklahoma born and bred, figures he has played Southern Hills a dozen times, but only once since the restoration. And there remains the prospect of a looming battle between the new Saudi league and the PGA Tour, which has denied releases for its members to play outside London in three weeks.
wftv.comHorschel, Gooch share the lead on a brutal day at Bay Hill
Horschel was buried in deep rough behind the 18th green and facing a fast chip down the hill. From the collar, he was able to use putter and his 30-foot putt trickled into the cup. “To make that putt on 18, to shoot 1 under on a really tough day is really satisfying,” he said. Jones, meanwhile, hit a brilliant approach on the 11th hole to 8 feet only to have the putt slide off line. A year ago on Saturday at Bay Hill, Homa was playing with Jazz Janewattananond when the Thai made a hole-in-one on the 14th hole.
wftv.comGooch handles the wind at Sea Island and takes 1-shot lead
Gooch matched the low score of the round — Taylor Moore had a hole-in-one on the 17th hole at Seaside for a 65 — and was at 13-under 129. Moore and Mackenzie Hughes of Canada (68 at Seaside) were two shots behind. Still seeking his first win, Gooch hasn't missed a cut in six starts this fall and has finished 11th or better four times. “Obviously I’m playing well, but I think my game has made a turn for some good stuff in some ways. Munoz, who matched the tournament record with a 60 in the first round at Seaside, birdied his last hole to share second with Huh.
wftv.com4 tied for lead in suspended 1st round of Houston Open
HOUSTON — (AP) — Marc Leishman, Russell Henley, Talor Gooch and Luke List shared the lead Thursday in the suspended first round of the Houston Open, with List still on the course when darkness stopped play. Leishman, Henley and Gooch each finished at 5-under 65, while List had three holes left when play was called for the day. “We knew we weren’t going to finish so just trying to get as much as we could in,” List said. He's playing for the fifth time in the last six weeks. He's playing on a sponsor exemption.
wftv.comLate birdies give Hovland a 62 for a 2-shot lead at Mayakoba
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — (AP) — Viktor Hovland was hitting it so well he had no trouble taking on a big risk, and it paid off Saturday with a big finish for a 9-under 62 and a two-shot lead in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. That gave him a two-shot lead over fellow Oklahoma State alum Talor Gooch (63), and he was three clear of Justin Thomas (64). Hovland went with driver and it landed about 15 feet beyond the pin and rolled just off the edge. Gooch had a birdie putt that spun out of the cup on the 18th. He did his best work earlier on the back nine, rolling in a 30-foot birdie putt on No.
wftv.comMatch Play field set with possibilities that remain for more
Then, Brian Harman shot 69 to tie for third at The Players Championship and went from No. Most curious is the case of Gary Woodland, the former U.S. Open champion and a Match Play finalist in 2015. Under the PGA Tour guidelines, he has to self-isolate for 10 days. THE BOUNCEIt didn’t take Collin Morikawa long to learn how to win on the PGA Tour. A year later, he won a playoff over Justin Thomas at Muirfield Village and a major at the PGA Championship.
Hoge in four-way tie for Wyndham lead after two rounds
Hoge, tied for the first-round lead with Harold Varner III and Roger Sloan, kept in front with a steady 2-under 68 to get to 10-under par. Hoge, whose best-ever tour finish was a second at The Greenbrier this season, was asked what it would take for his first PGA Tour win. Like Kim, Gooch shot 65 to get into the foursome on top. He had six birdies, including two of his final three holes, to move up. Kokrak was in a group of seven one shot further back along with past Wyndham champ Webb Simpson, who shot his second straight 66.
Thompson, Werenski share lead at 3M Open at 12 under
Richy Werenski celebrates after a birdie on the 18th hole to give him the lead of the during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament in Blaine, Minn., Thursday, July 23, 2020. The 24-year-old, who's winless on the PGA Tour, followed up with a 67. You know youre playing good golf, Finau said. Thompson, who played in the first group of the day with a 6:50 a.m., moved even with Werenski on the 194-yard 17th hole. The big thing is just try not to overpower the golf course, stay within myself, make good, comfortable swings, Thompson said.