Saudi officials file letter challenging subpoenas in LIV-PGA lawsuit

Saudi Arabia is disputing a federal magistrate's ruling that its sovereign wealth fund and the fund's governor be required to provide documents and testimony in LIV Golf's antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

Attorneys for the kingdom filed a letter on Thursday challenging the reasons a magistrate judge cited for allowing subpoenas of the Public Investment Fund and its governor, Yasir al-Rumayyan.

The letter was sent to U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, who is overseeing the case in the Northern District of California.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen in a Feb. 16 decision said the PIF and al-Rumayyan are not protected by the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act because of a commercial activity exception.

The dispute centers around LIV's argument that the PIF and al-Rumayyan provided broad oversight of the rival league. The PGA Tour says documents obtained during discovery indicate they were actively involved in signing players to LIV Golf.

According to court documents, the PIF owns 93% of LIV Golf, which in the last year has paid signing fees reported to be upward of $100 million to players, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

The letter also says van Keulen suggested the PIF would have waived its immunity if it authorized LIV Golf to sue the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour banned players who joined LIV Golf from competing in its events, and nine players — including Mickelson and DeChambeau — filed an antitrust lawsuit on Aug. 3. LIV Golf soon joined as a plaintiff, and only three players — DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones — remain as plaintiffs.

«Her reasoning has broad implications for Saudi Arabia beyond the instant case,» said the letter, filed by the Washington