LIV, others sued over world golf league concept
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- World Golf Group and Premier Golf League filed the suit in London's Commercial Court on April 16, alleging breach of confidence and unlawful-means conspiracy against LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Golf Saudi.
- The complaint describes LIV Golf as a "bald facsimile of the PGL," copying shotgun starts, simultaneous individual-and-team competitions, four-golfer franchise teams with captains, and knockout team championships.
- Two former WGG founders, Richard Marsh and Jed Moore, are accused of breach of fiduciary duty for helping the Saudis launch LIV Golf; Marsh resigned from PGL and joined the Saudis on May 24, 2021.
- PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan allegedly told Moore and Majed Al-Sorour he "wanted to teach the tours a lesson" and would spend billions to defeat the PGA Tour, but insisted on full control of the claimants' business.
- In November 2019, the PIF signed a non-binding letter of intent to fund $490 million for a 49% stake in the venture, but later countered the founders' $55 million "make whole" demand with just $5 million and 1% equity.
- The Public Investment Fund invested more than $5 billion into LIV Golf before announcing April 30 it would no longer fund the breakaway circuit; LIV CEO Scott O'Neil is now trying to raise $300 million to keep it running.
- Andy Gardiner allegedly first conceived the world golf league concept in summer 2009, originally calling it the Tour de Force World Championship, before launching the World Golf Group with around 30 co-founders in March 2018.
Why it matters: The lawsuit exposes how the PIF walked away from a near-$500 million commitment to a partner-led league in favor of taking full control itself, then poured over $5 billion into LIV before bailing out this April — leaving the original architects of the concept now suing for up to $630 million while LIV itself scrambles for $300 million in new funding to survive the season.
