"They aren't trade secrets" PGA Tour lawyers want to unseal LIV Golf contracts

Lawyers for the PGA Tour have filed a motion to unseal the contracts the LIV Golf Invitational Series players have signed. 

The news was first reported by Rex Hoggard of the Golf Channel. The motion was filed less than a week after the start date for the trial was set. 

Per the report, the motion reads: "Plaintiffs have come nowhere close to establishing 'compelling reasons' to seal this information.

"Many of the provisions [the suspended players] seek to seal are highly relevant to the core issues in this litigation." 

It adds: "Nothing in [the players'] supporting declarations suggests that basic tournament rules and regulations amount to trade secrets.

"On the contrary, [the players] filed the PGA Tour's player handbook and regulations on this court's public docket as part of their complaint, and the Tour has not sought to redact or otherwise seal the material."

Judge Beth L. Freeman, who ruled against LIV players Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones as they attempted to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs via a temporary restraining order, previously commented in court that the contracts that they have signed are "so restrictive." 

A draft contract has been leaked, revealing some fascinating details. 

The antitrust lawsuit was filed earlier in the month by a group of 11 LIV players who have been suspended by the Tour for playing in the Saudi-financed series. 

 

 

 

 

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However, that number has been reduced to nine as Pat Perez and Carlos Ortiz have now dropped out. Perez admitted he did not fully think the decision through. 

As for Ortiz, he explained that once he realised that to play the FedEx Cup Playoffs he had to be involved in a lawsuit he dropped out. 

"I qualified for the playoffs. And with the points I made in the year, I have my place in the playoffs. I'm not taking the place away from anyone," he said. 

"I love the PGA Tour and I grew up watching the PGA Tour. I even watch it now. I don't watch much golf, but if a friend is there, I'll see him. I have nothing against the PGA Tour." 

Other than revealing how much money the LIV players have signed on for, the Tour also seeks to reveal the non-financial terms of the deals such as playing commitments for LIV events and players' ability to tee it up in competing events. 

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Next page: Trevor Immelman says LIV "giant pain in my ass"