Report: LIV attorneys up ante on Tiger Woods agent (and three PGA Tour players!)
LIV Golf attorneys have shifted their attention to Tiger Woods' agent.
We already knew Tiger Woods' long-time agent Mark Steinberg would likely be involved in the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf court battle.
It is undeniable Woods, even at the age of 47 years old, yields an incredible amount of power and influence in men's professional golf.
He's an 82-time PGA Tour winner, 15-time major champion who made golf 'cool' and supercharged the sport.
So why would he sit back and watch LIV Golf stomp all over the circuit that he's played on since he uttered the line: "I guess hello, world!"
The existence of LIV Golf ticks off Woods for a few reasons. He gave us an insight late last year.
Woods said the breakaway tour went against his competitive spirit as he accused those who made the leap of 'turning their backs' on 'what has allowed them to get this position'.
"I just don't understand it," he said as he also questioned players' incentive to 'go out and earn it'.
He previously said:
So with all that in mind, it's hardly surprising LIV attorneys have shifted their attention to the aforementioned Steinberg.
Steinberg - who has represented Woods since 1998 - also boasts a stable of other professional golfers under Excel Sports Management.
That includes Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose, Matthew Fitzpatick, Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar.
In other words, the players listed (on the surface) are firmly on the side of the PGA.
One player who was with Steinberg's agency was Thomas Pieters. When he joined LIV for a reported $10m deal, Pieters was dropped by Steinberg.
It appeared that decision was very much a consequence of his decision to join LIV. "Weirdest thing ever," Pieters previously said.
LIV attorneys now want to question Steinberg and have served a subpoena to the golf agent.
He is challenging this, but according to Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard, the judge overseeing LIV's antitrust lawsuit and the subsequent PGA counterclaim has ruled this was properly served.
It's also interesting to note that three other PGA Tour players have also been served subpoenas for depositions and documents.
Those are:
"Weirdest thing ever. He's just gone."
Tiger Woods' agent Mark Steinberg has DUMPED Thomas Pieters following his move to LIV Golf.
https://t.co/UvlbcJ8YsD pic.twitter.com/iSVWQDlz4x
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) February 25, 2023
All three players have challenged the subpoenas. Kisner's challenge, apparently, was successful after his attorney persuaded a judge the request was 'unduly burdensome' after failing to meet the court's deadline.
Per Hoggard, the larger case of LIV vs. PGA Tour is essentially mired in uncertainty as we await a ruling over whether the court will hear an appeal from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and its governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
PIF and Al-Rumayyan have been named as co-defendant's in the PGA's counterclaim but attorneys for LIV have claimed they're not subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
It should also be noted that all players who originally took action against the PGA Tour have dropped out of the litigation.
Phil Mickelson and 10 other golfers were involved.
There is another hearing scheduled for 24 August.
Read the full Golf Channel report
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