Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and two other LIV players have requested to remove their names from the Saudi circuit’s antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
The four players, completed by Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford, wrote to a federal judge to have their names removed from the case, leaving only Bryson DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones as the remaining plaintiffs for LIV Golf in the lawsuit.
Mickelson told SI.com a fortnight ago that because LIV Golf had joined the suit as a plaintiff, that there was likely no longer a need for him to get involved in the case.
“The only reason for me to stay in is damages, which I don’t really want or need anything,” Mickelson said.
“I do think it’s important that the players have the right to play when and where they want, when and where they qualify for. And now that LIV is a part of it, that will be accomplished if and when they win.”
Carlos Ortiz, Jason Kokrak, Abraham Ancer and Pat Perez had all previously withdrawn from the lawsuit ahead of the upcoming January trial. LIV has already suffered one defeat in court after their players were denied access to compete in the recent FedExCup play-offs following their moves to LIV.
LIV Golf officially joined the anti-trust lawsuit in August and believes the merits of their case continue to hold up.
“Nothing has changed. The merits of the lawsuit — the PGA Tour’s anti-competitive conduct — still stand and will be fully tested in court, and we look forward to it,” said a LIV Golf statement to Sports Illustrated.
“We stand by the players who the PGA Tour has treated so poorly, but we also recognise to be successful we no longer need a wide variety of players to be on the suit.
“We have our players’ backs and will press our case in court against the PGA’s anti-competitive behaviour.”
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