Companies claiming world golf league concept sue LIV, others - ESPN

The English companies that claim they first conceived the idea of a world golf league are seeking between $210 million and $630 million in damages from LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and other individuals and entities, according to court records obtained by ESPN.

The lawsuit, which was filed by lawyers representing the World Golf Group (WGG) and Premier Golf League (PGL), accuses LIV Golf, the PIF, Golf Saudi and other defendants of breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy.

LIV Golf did not respond to a request for comment.

Two former World Golf Group founders, Richard Marsh and Jed Moore, are accused of breach of fiduciary duty for helping the Saudis launch LIV Golf in June 2022.

«The Claimants conceived the idea for a new golf league called the Premier Golf League,» the complaint says. «Over the course of several years, the Claimants refined the format of this league and produced business plans, contracts, financial models and other intellectual property belonging to the Claimants, which provided the blueprint for its launch and success.

»The Defendants conspired together to use the Claimants' confidential information without the permission of the Claimants to launch the LIV Golf League."

The complaint hasn't been publicly available since it was filed in Commercial Court in London on April 16.

ESPN obtained a copy of the lawsuit and verified its authenticity through two sources familiar with the case.

The complaint alleges the LIV Golf League is a «bald facsimile of the PGL,» from its shotgun starts, 54-hole events (LIV Golf has since changed to 72 holes), golfers competing in individual and team competitions simultaneously, knockout rounds in team championships and franchises with four