Federal judge denies LIV golfers' bid to play in PGA Tour post-season

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 post-season.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman made her decision Tuesday afternoon in San Jose after attorneys for the sides each spoke for about an hour. Freeman said she didn't consider the golfers faced irreparable harm because of the big money they were guaranteed by joining LIV, a key issue in the case.

"There simply is no irreparable harm in this case," PGA Tour attorney Elliot Peters said.

Robert Walters, an antitrust litigator representing the golfers, noted it is their opportunity on a big playoff stage, "effectively the Super Bowl of golf" because of its "significant income opportunities." Freeman responded that the LIV Tour earnings potential was also great and asked whether players might have been able to wait until the conclusion of the PGA Tour season to depart for the new tour.

Walters argued there were only 48 spots and they would have filled according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, to which Freeman said she agreed with that stance but that the golfers stood to gain far more financially joining LIV than the money they might have earned on the PGA Tour.

"This is an extraordinarily attractive financial opportunity but it's much more than that," Walters said, saying the harm done is that "players lose intangible benefits" such as qualifications for the major tournaments as well as other marquee invitationals.

The first of three FedEx Cup playoff events begin Thursday as players compete for the $18 million US top prize — thus the urgency for Freeman to rule. This case could go to trial next year, with the possibility of an injunction hearing in late September or early October, according