LIV Golf is currently embroiled in a legal dispute that could reach tens of millions of dollars, accused of copying the format from the Premier Golf League (PGL), according to a report from The Times of London.
The PGL, originating in 2014, is a potential rival golf system to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. The details of the tournament were publicly revealed in 2020, aiming to attract top golfers. It is led by Andrew Gardiner, a British lawyer and entrepreneur, envisioning a 54-hole tournament with a shotgun start, featuring teams of 4 members competing for individual and team prizes. The project initially received backing from investors in the Arab world.
“All the planning has been done, the platform has been built, and the financial backing is in place,” Gardiner shared in 2020. “Now, the system will be rolled out with support from golfers, sponsors, broadcasters, and fans.”
However, the Arab side decided to pursue its own golf project, and some directors left PGL to take similar positions in Performance 54 (the group overseeing LIV Golf activities). LIV Golf was launched in the fall of 2021, with its first season starting in the summer of 2022. PGL’s attempts to collaborate with the European Tour were also rejected. One of PGL’s final appeals was a letter to PGA Tour golfers urgently requesting their consideration for collaboration.
At that time, PGL asserted that golfers could earn $20 million in their proposed format, emphasized by a $2 million upfront payment.
Despite PGL’s efforts to continue, there was no significant progress. Although Gardiner later expressed non-anger towards LIV Golf for copying its format, The Times reported that PGL engaged in a secret battle with LIV, likely revolving around intellectual property ownership.
As of now, no records have been submitted to the court. According to The Times, this is because PGL directed their lawyers to find a solution to avoid legal factors. The initial compensation sought by PGL was $60 million from LIV Golf, but The Times suggests a settlement could be around $12 million.