The Department of Justice is investigating the PGA Tour for antitrust violations during its ongoing battle against the upstart LIV Golf, setting the stage for a momentous legal challenge for the tour as it fights to ward off its new challenger.
The Travelers Championship will be held at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the investigation.
LIV Golf called the move by the PGA Tourvindictive and said it had come down hard on any golfer tempted by it.
According to the Journal, the agents of several golfers have been contacted by the Justice Department, asking about the PGA Tour's response to LIV Golf and control of players' participation in events not sanctioned by thePGA Tour.
Forbes did not get a response from the Department of Justice or LIV Golf.
It was not a surprise. The Federal Trade Commission investigation into antitrust behavior from the tour that didn't find the tour guilty of any wrongdoing was similar to the 1994 investigation.
Nine of the sport's top-40 ranked players have signed with LIV Golf thanks to contracts reportedly worth into the hundreds of millions and larger tournament prize money pools. Last month, the Commissioner of the PGA Tour said that they welcome good, healthy competition. There is a golf league in Saudi Arabia. It is not concerned with the return on investment or growth of the game.
Political repercussions of the investigation. News of the Justice Department probe comes days before President Joe Biden travels to Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Laden.
The Justice Department is looking into potential antitrust violations by the PGA Tour.
The numbers show how Saudi money changed golf.
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