US Justice Department investigates PGA Tour over LIV Golf stance

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the PGA Tour over the handling of its players and potentially engaging in anticompetitive behavior during its ongoing tussle with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.

The investigation focuses on sanctions given to golfers who quit the PGA Tour and warnings given to players considering participating in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

The DOJ is investigating whether the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the main tournament regulatory bodies colluded to deny LIV Golf players ranking points to.

The 48 competitors that took part in the first two LIV events did not receive any points.

The probe, according to the PGA Tour, "was not unexpected."

When the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began looking into whether the circuit had violated anti-trust laws by mandating that players obtain releases before competing in non-PGA Tour events or televised golf competitions outside of the tour's purview, the circuit found itself in a similar situation.

The tour received no punishment.

With signing bonuses of more than $100 million and prize money of $25 million for each event, LIV Golf has been successful in luring players. Garcia and Patrick Reed are two athletes that decided to leave the PGA Tour in order to join.

Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, blasted the PGA Tour's decision to deny players permission to participate in events on the breakaway circuit in May, calling it anti-fan and anti-golfer.