The ongoing legal battles waged by LIV Golf, as well as those from the Saudi-backed circuit, against the PGA Tour have taken another wild turn, with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy now being roped into the fray.
Larry Klayman, the same lawyer who tried to claim former President Barack Obama wasn’t born in the U.S., is now seeking to force Woods and McIlroy to testify under oath in regards to last week’s players-only meeting that took place in Delaware ahead of the BMW Championship.
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Klayman alleges the discussions that took place are “anticompetitive and violative of the antitrust laws vis a vis the LIV Golf Tour and its players.”
The press release from Klayman — who doesn’t represent the controversial circuit, but did file a $750 million defamation lawsuit last week against the Golf Channel and Brandel Chamblee on behalf of LIV player Patrick Reed — says that Woods has been given a notice of deposition for Sept. 21, McIlroy for Sept. 22, and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan for Sept. 27 in Jupiter, Florida.
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“This is not a personal ‘thing’ against Woods, McIlroy and Monahan,” the 71-year-old lawyer said in a release.
“It’s about getting information about what occurred at the players’ meeting and generally with regard to allegations in our complaint that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and their commissioners Jay Monahan and Keith Pelley, are allegedly colluding in restraint of trade and the antitrust laws to harm the LIV Golf Tour and its players.”
Klayman also called the Tour’s announcement Wednesday, in which they confirmed significant increases in tournament purses and guaranteed money for top players, an attempt to “emulate LIV Golf, while continuing to allegedly harm LIV and its players by, among other alleged anticompetitive acts, working to deny them world ranking points to compete in major tournaments such as the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.”
Klayman also dubbed the Tour “LIV Light” in the wake of the news, and said he looks forward to the trio “telling the truth” under oath, calling their testimony not just “relevant,” but “crucial.”
Greg Norman, the CEO and commissioner of LIV, took his own dig at the Tour on Wednesday by posting a meme on Instagram in which he accused Monahan of “copying” his homework, given the foundation of LIV is that it offers players guaranteed money.
The Tour, meanwhile, wraps up its 2021-22 season this week with the Tour Championship, which began Thursday and ends Sunday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. After its conclusion, a handful more players, including reigning British Open champ Cameron Smith, are reportedly expected to bolt from the Tour to LIV.
This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission
