(Washington Insider Magazine)-The DOJ has launched an investigation into the Augusta Golf Club (ANGC) and the United States Gulf Association(USGA) along with the PGA Tour itself.
The Antitrust Investigation was started due to a court battle between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Tournament, which has seen top PGA Players cross over to LIV. The DOJ antitrust probe which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal reported that the players were reminded through their agents not to participate in non-PGA tours including LIV Golf tours.
The DOJ antitrust investigation goes beyond the PGA Tour and LIV Golf dispute; Augusta Golf Club is also involved in the in DOJ antitrust probe.
The USGA is also complying with the investigation; its spokeswoman has also confirmed, along with the PGA of America, which runs the PGA Championship, a separate body from the PGA Tour is involved in the probe but has declined to comment on the matter.
The Justice Department has made no statement on the investigation, though its only interest is the legal disputes affecting the circuit of golfing in the U.S.
Liv Golf, which launched an antitrust case against the PGA Tour, a case that was originally brought by LIV players such as Golfing Legend Phil Nickelson, is now being overseen by the circuit.
LIV is accusing the Tour of illegally suspending it’s players, whilst the Tour is counter-suing on the grounds that LIV has interfered with it’s ongoing deals it has with the players.
The Tour believes it will win both the court battle and the DOJ antitrust probe, and with public doubt over the antitrust probe including some Members of Congress objecting to the probe and accusing the government of taking the side of the Saudis.
LIV, on the other hand, accuses the Tour of leaning on the secretive Augusta to prevent its golfers from joining LIV, an accusation the PGA Tour denies.
LIV is also in a campaign battle with the official World Golf Ranking to award points for its events.
