Justice Dept. has opened an anti-trust investigation into the PGA Tour…
Super League Predictions
Report: U.S. Justice Department investigating PGA Tour for antitrust violations against Saudi-backed LIV Golf
Imagine the howling if that happened five years ago. No, really.
"Noted in the report, in 1994 the Federal Trade Commission looked into two Tour rules regarding golfers playing in non-PGA events without the commissioner’s permission and their appearance on televised golf programs, but stood down a year later."
“This was not unexpected,” said a PGA Tour spokesman to the Journal. “We went through this in 1994, and we are confident in a similar outcome.”
If the DOJ does go forward with the anti trust , I would expect the PGA to then say OK that's fine, but we still have a rule where you have to play 15 PGA Tour events a year per the rules.
Then we'll see how many play the 15 PGA Tour events plus the 14 LIV events. lol
- Edited
As read the 1994/5 FTC article, the PGA did a masterfully job of lobbying the right people, from big bussinesses to congressmen.
Not so sure the PGA rules will stand, I believe the playing of 15 plus playing in a one off the beaten track tournaments every 4 years or so is relaxed after a players having competed in a number of tournaments/years (20 wins/15 yrs) and age might also be a factor as well., Take a few of the players who play the Champion tour and the PGA tour, not sure they are playing 15 or either, Age might also be a factor as well, Also in that count of 15 can be the majors, exemptions for non-pga, and wgc.
Evidently once Lifetime member is achieved, if the pro only plays a few, he could lose his voting rights but nothing else. Looking for 2nd source to verify the Lifetime member
- Edited
"Under PGA Tour rules, a member must compete in a minimum of 15 PGA Tour events each season as a condition of their membership voting rights. It can be any 15 events co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, including the four majors and four World Golf Championships, as well any of the FedEx Cup playoff events. So long as a player competes in 15 events."
Also again, the PGA Tour has another rule where they only grant 3 releases a year and none for North America. So, given LIV has tournaments in the U.S. they were never going to grant releases for LIV tournaments that are held here.
So the players who did not resign were in violation of the rules.
The NFL, MLB, NBA etc. all have rules. If you break the rules then there's consequences. Athletes have been banned before. Pete Rose comes to mind. He was banned from baseball for gambling. That was against MLB's rules.
Prominent names who've received lifetime bans from their sports are Tonya Harding and Lance Armstrong. And there are several others as well.
PGA Tour players are 'independent contractors', but they play in an organization that has rules. The wheels of justice at DOJ are usually slow moving. So, this could take some time.
Meantime we have Walter Sobchak talking about rules.
Sneakylong PGA Tour players are 'independent contractors', but they play in an organization that has rules.
Thus, they are only 'employees' when they are actually playing in a PGA tournament.
Why should they be penalized employment when not playing in a PGA tournament? This is what the DOJ will be considering.
If I am a member of the Laborer's Union, I can also be a member of the Teamsters Union. Plus, I can also be an Operating Engineer. Not all at the same work site though, of course. Ironworkers though, I don't know. They are some scary m'f'ers. 
- Edited
I don't see the 'independent contractor' label as being literal as your analogy of labors in a labor union.
As I mentioned before if DOJ says they are in violation of anti trust laws then once the ban is lifted they're still held to the rules.
And again, the rules are you have to play 15 PGA Tour events a year and they don't give releases for North American events and only give 3 a year elsewhere. That was all in place before LIV came along.
So I can't see DOJ saying you can't have any rules for playing on the Tour. I haven't read what the punishments are if anyone disregarded the rules.
So I would think the suspensions are arbitrary and up to the commissioner just like Goodell in the NFL. So the only way I see around this is they play the 14 LIV events and at least 15 PGA Tour events.
Then they'd be in compliance with the PGA Tour criteria. Otherwise they'd be in constant violation of the rules. I doubt DOJ will say you can't set any rules to abide by.
- Edited
Sneakylong I can't see DOJ saying you can't have any rules for playing on the Tour.
If you are not playing a PGA tourney this week, are you their employee? No. Why do you have to follow any rules for a company you do not work for?
The 'membership' requirement is what wins this for the PGA. Even if not a current employee.
Or, is it a 'requirement', to be a member, even though 'not employed'? That might be a problem for the PGA.
- Edited
I wouldn’t get hung up on ‘employment’. There’s criteria to becoming a member of the PGA Tour.
Meet that criteria you’re in. Once in you abide by the rules to stay. Don’t abide by them or meet other qualifications to remain, then you’re out.
Again, the issue seems to me to be can the PGA Tour have rules regarding the amount of tournaments you have to play and can they set a number for releases to play elsewhere.
If DOJ says yes to both then I don’t see a problem. If DOJ says no then there’s a problem.
But I’m not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV. Lol
Sneakylong Going to be interesting, for sure. Too bad they won't have it on C-Span, "The Nancy Channel".
I don't miss seeing those guys play, some were distractions to the game anyway, but do understand their reasons for going to LIV. The Barbasol tourney last weekend was actually interesting, and had a great Sunday finish, regardless of the names of players/money involved. That's what golf is all about, imo. Not 'names' ...... just golf!
If you didn't get a chance to hear Tiger's press conference, I think it is worth a listen on LIV especially.
Not a great Tiger fan, but he nailed the presser, unlike some of his more arrogant ones. More humble & realistic.
- Edited
Even if the DOJ says there's a problem, nothing may happen. IIRC they ruled against the Tour in the 90's and yet, like the Teflon Don, the Tour came out unscathed. Supposedly they had such close ties to so many big shots that they didn't even get a wrist slap.
Edit: a much more golf knowledgeable buddy just told me there was no ruling against the tour. A bit of Googling shows there MIGHT have been a ruling against the Tour, but Finchem pulled out all the stops to try to make sure that didn't happen.
KCee Supposedly they had such close ties to so many big shots
Hopefully it won't be a secret bargaining chip for the upcoming state visit. 
Eguller Tiger's press conference
I thought some of it was BS.
He took "guaranteed money" before he ever hit a ball as a PGA Tour pro, from a sweatshop company no less.
He's the last person to be yapping about anybody else's life decisions, motivations or whatever else, given his history.
He's just another rich Tour shill, so his opinion from his ivory tower means jack shit to the little people, and should hold no extra weight other than having an opinion like everyone else.
JMO!
- Edited
I saw all of Tiger’s press conference. It was very good. First time he’s commented in depth on LIV. He basically said the same as has been said before that without world ranking points many will give up opportunities to play in the Majors etc.. Plus much more.
But this was far from Michael Jordon’s Republicans buy sneakers too comment. In the past Tiger was infamous for saying nothing when talking. He gave his opinion on Greg Norman and LIV in no uncertain terms. Very refreshing seeing him speak his mind.
I think Tiger realizes he’s been the face of Golf for 25 years and is now willing to take the mantel of leadership that Jack and Arnold were for the Tour in the past.
Spuzz thought some of it was BS.
He took "guaranteed money" before he ever hit a ball as a PGA Tour pro, from a sweatshop company no less.
That is why I’ve never bought any Nike product. Yes , his sponsor $$ was not clean either. It is a matter of degree IMO. However, it was a Tiger I didn’t expect to hear from. Beaten up and mellowed maybe.
- Edited
ex. Patrick Reed.
A non-member may Monday qualify for a PGA tournament.
Any problems there? 
And let's not go into that barred/banned/suspended discussion again. If he is not a member, he cannot be any of those things. It would be like someone telling me that I can't Monday quailfy....why would I be barred, I'm not a member?
Borderline discrimination, imo. If not directly so.