Phil Lefty wants the PGA Tour to work with the Saudi-backed series for the benefit of the sport. Affirmative.
LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman is going to Capitol Hill later this week to talk with lawmakers about the new circuit's plans.
Norman, a two-time Open Championship winner, hopes to address some lawmakers' concerns about the league's controversial ties to Saudi Arabia, and the PGA Tour's alleged efforts to prevent it from becoming a legitimate rival for the best golf players in the world.
Jonathan Grella said in a statement that LIV Golf is going to the Hill to meet with lawmakers from both parties. We think it's important to educate members on LIV's business model in order to counter the Tour's anti-competitive efforts.
Norman is going to travel to Washington.
Norman said last week that his circuit, financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, doesn't want to talk to the PGA Tour about a truce.
In the past, Norman tried to talk to the PGA Tour commissioner about figuring out how the leagues can coexist, but now he's not interested in doing so.
"Because our product is working, we don't want to sit down with them," Norman told The Australian last week.
Several past major championship winners were lured to the new circuit with signing bonuses of up to $200 million.
In a federal antitrust lawsuit filed against the PGA Tour in August, lawyers for LIV Golf and a few of its players accused the tour of unfairly suspending members for playing in their tournaments. Vendors, agents, broadcast partners and sponsors were accused of being pressured by the PGA Tour.
The lawsuit was denied by the golf tour.
The US Department of Justice is looking into whether the PGA Tour is acting illegally as a monopoly.
The Official World Golf Ranking doesn't recognize LIV Golf because of its board members. The rankings are used to determine exemptions.
Smith, the third-ranked player in the world, won the fifth event of LIV Golf on Sunday.
Smith told reporters that he hoped to get world ranking points. It would mean a lot to the guys on the tour. There is a lot on the line with the ranking points. There needs to be a resolution soon. The field here is strong and deep enough to warrant that and hopefully it will be soon.
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