Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been given deadlines to sit for depositions as part of Larry Klayman’s antitrust case against the PGA Tour.
As part of his ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, attorney Larry Klayman has taken a step toward speaking with golfers under oath. He claims that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are “not above the law.”
As part of the 6 June framework agreement, the legal dispute between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf League was resolved; however, Klayman’s case is still pending.
In June 2022, he filed his class action lawsuit against the Tour. It was brought before Palm Beach County’s 15th Judicial Circuit.
Accusing the North American circuit and the European-based DP World Tour of being a part of “an anticompetitive scheme to restrain trade through monopolization, attempted monopolization, group boycotts and other antitrust violations to destroy the new LIV Golf Tour and its players to the detriment of golf fans in Florida,” is the lawyer who defended Patrick Reed in his unsuccessful $450 million defamation lawsuit against media members covering golf.
Woods and McIlroy now have deadlines from the court to appear for depositions. McIlroy has until February 23 and Woods has until January 30.
In the past, Woods has been charged with purposefully evading efforts to receive a subpoena notice.
The fact that McIlroy received his during the off-season infuriated the Northern Irishman, which was the main cause of his disregard for Reed on the driving range prior to the Dubai Desert Classic.
McIlroy had earlier said, “I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve.”
“You’re not going to take it well, of course, if I’m trying to enjoy myself with my family and someone shows up at your door and delivers that.
“Once more, I live in reality; I have no idea where he resides. I wouldn’t expect a hello or a handshake if I were in his position.”
“Woods and McIlroy are not above the law and their frivolous and now failed multiple attempts to avoid being deposed creates more than a presumption of liability for their efforts to harm LIV Golf and its players,” stated a statement released by Klayman’s Freedom Watch.
“As members of the PGA Tour Players Advisory Council, Woods and McIlroy were heavily involved in attempts by the PGA Tour to maintain its monopolistic hold over professional golf. Their testimony and the full production of documents ordered by the court in Palm Beach will be most revealing.”
In order to scare sponsors and television rights contracts away from LIV Golf and its players and prevent their entry into the professional golf tour market, the statement went on: “Both professional golfers assisted commissioner Monahan in defaming and disparaging LIV Golf and its players after the new league came into existence.”
“Jon Rahm, who most golf fans consider to be the best professional player and independent contractor, recently decided to play professional golf on the LIV Tour. This is just the latest example of the anticompetitive acts and unfair trade practices of the PGA Tour and Monahan. He was immediately suspended from playing on the PGA Tour and is likely to also be suspended and fined by its joint venture partner, the DP World Tour, aka the European Tour.”
