The FedEx Cup playoffs were denied to LIV Golf members by a federal judge. 0:33
A federal judge in California denied a temporary restraining order against three suspended PGA Tour players who signed with a new golf club.
They won't be playing in the first leg of the playoffs.
"From my point of view, common sense prevailed, and I thought it was the correct decision," he said. I think it will allow us to focus on golf now that it has happened. We can all move forward and not have to worry about that sideshow for a while.
The ruling by the U.S. District Court Judge Beth Labson-Freeman was in line with what Justin Thomas was looking for.
The ongoing dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf became more personal when 11 players filed an antitrust lawsuit against the tour last week.
Thomas said it was personal to him from the start. From the beginning, I said it was like that. The guys were given the chance to play. You don't have to eat the cake. They received a large amount of cake, and were able to eat it on their own. You don't have to bring it with you.
The past major champion said he had more respect for players who didn't try to come back and play after defecting.
Guys are going to make their own decisions, and that's great. I don't begrudge people for going over to play a game. It's up to you and what you want to do. The membership of this tour resents the fact that they want to get their way back in here with no consequences, and anyone that has read the handbook or abided by the rules would feel very unfair.
The drama between the circuits has distracted Thomas, who is eighth in the FedEx Cup points race.
Thomas said that it was taking up the golf world and taking away from great storylines. I'm sure Scottie got asked about what was going on, and he's had one of the best seasons ever.
The most money that's ever been earned and winning the FedEx Cup by a mile, I'm sure there were more questions about that than there should have been. It's small things like that that take away from the bigger picture of what's happening on the PGA Tour.
The drama may not be over soon. She didn't rule on the antitrust claims of the players. There will be a jury trial in San Jose, California, in September of 2023. Between now and then there will be a lot of depositions.
More PGA Tour members are likely to leave for bigger purses and lucrative signing bonuses on the LIV Golf circuit. The Open Championship winner is the latest player who has been linked to the league being financed by Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, the verdict was a small victory for the tour.
There's a long way to go. It's like you scored on the first hole, but you have 17 more to go.
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