Three LIV Golf players were trying to receive a TRO for the FedExCup Playoffs but a judge denied it to them on Tuesday, which had golf Twitter buzzing.
With the FedExCup Playoffs set to begin on Thursday at the first tee of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, a trio of golfers who signed with LIV Golf — Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford — asked a federal judge for a TRO to be able to play in the playoffs despite their suspensions from the Tour as they earned enough points in their PGA Tour seasons to qualify.
After a wild trial on Tuesday, a federal judge denied the golfers the TRO, meaning they will not be allowed to play in the events as the ruling states that the players’ contracts with LIV Golf compensated for missing out on the playoffs.
In the wake of the ruling, both LIV Golf and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan released statements about the matter.
LIV has released a statement on today's court ruling, saying it's disappointed Gooch, Swafford and Jones "won't be able to play golf." pic.twitter.com/NcaVCLtwBR
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) August 9, 2022
Memo from Tour commissioner Jay Monahan regarding today’s ruling in California: pic.twitter.com/baXzY9UxNU
— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) August 9, 2022
Golf Twitter reacts to federal judge ruling LIV Golf players won’t play in FedExCup Playoffs
Golf fans and golf media members alike had one-liners, jokes and more after the ruling was handed down.
I'm not totally sure of what all happened today, but after watching for two straight hours, I do know one thing.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 9, 2022
Beth L. Freeman is the goat.
The "three poor kids" will not be allowed to play the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) August 9, 2022
So…the PGA Tour wins the first legal battle. It will not be the last.
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) August 9, 2022
Court is adjourned. TRO denied. Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones won't be playing in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) August 9, 2022
An early win for the PGA Tour. A loss for delightfully awkward pairings in Memphis.
So far, the LIV guys can't have their cake AND eat it too. More to come!
"They [PGA Tour] can't ban you for one day let alone life." -- Greg Norman text to Sergio Garcia that was featured in the California court papers.
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) August 9, 2022
Oops.
Ruling against TRO and a trial set for next September in the main case assures that LIV players’ OWGR rankings will crater over the coming months.
— The Fried Egg (@the_fried_egg) August 9, 2022
Will be interesting to see if anyone else follow’s Reed to Asian Tour
To start my day with the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and end it with the Honorable Beth L. Freeman was an absolute treat.
— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) August 9, 2022
No word yet on whether the guards at TPC Southwind are going to block last-second entrant Chandlor Grundle from competing pic.twitter.com/XKJrBAxzeD
— ANTIFAldo (@ANTIFAldo) August 9, 2022
While everyone realizes this is a victory for the PGA Tour, it’s far from the last one that they’re going to need in the courtroom.
After this hearing, a tentative trial date for the anti-trust lawsuits was set for next September, which is going to be fascinating to see what happens between the two entities between now and then.
The only thing that we can say for certain is that it’s time to buckle up if you’re a golf fan.
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