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Several weeks back Sportico media reporter Anthony Crupi wrote a column arguing there is little reason for golf fans to work themselves up over the emergence of LIV Golf, and to instead “pay more attention to the things we pay attention to.” Despite all the debate surrounding the challenger golf series, few people are actually tuning in.
But one facet of the LIV Golf story could have implications far beyond millionaire golfers: the class action lawsuit filed by some LIV golfers and LIV Golf against the PGA Tour. It alleges the PGA Tour has illegally banned players who signed contracts with LIV and has colluded with other golf institutions, including the DP World Tour (aka the European Tour) and the four majors, sponsors and partners to form an illegal boycott of LIV golfers. The PGA Tour has not yet filed a legal response to the complaint, but is expected to vigorously contest the LIV claims. The tour has already convinced a federal judge to reject arguments for what would have been a restraining order allowing some of the golfers to play.
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“If the PGA wins, it’ll [set] a precedent that lets McDonald’s and Burger King hold down fry-guy wages,” economist Andy Schwarz (partner, OSKR) said. “Working men and women should care very much if [the unlawful restraint of trade] principle is eroded, because if the law changes in a case about rich golfers, the precedent will stand also for poor guys.”
Jeffrey Kessler (partner, Winston & Strawn) was not in a position to comment on the specific case. But he agreed “antitrust laws protect the labor markets for workers at every income level so that if employers are given greater leeway to suppress competition for high paid workers, that precedent would hurt lower wage workers as well.”
Four golfers, including Phil Mickelson, voluntarily dismissed their claims against the PGA Tour yesterday. Their participation, or lack thereof, in the class action suit does not change the…
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Source : yahoo
