Golf star Phil Mickelson has changed his mind.
The American no longer wanted to sue the PGA Tour after moving to the Saudi-funded LIV Tour.
Phil Mickelson, 52, was one of many stars to make the leap on the new LIV Tour earlier this year. As for the problem, he was said to have received more than 2 billion crowns from the Saudi financiers behind the project. The PGA Tour responded by suspending Mickelson and the other defectors from continuing to play at their former home stadium.
This was not appreciated by a number of new LIV players who banded together and sued the US-based tour. Eleven players put their signature on the atmosphere, including stars such as Mickelson, Abraham Ancer and Bryson Dechambeau.
Suspended after trying to recruit
In Mickelson’s case, he was banned from the PGA Tour for two years in March after it was revealed that he was recruiting players for the LIV Tour. This was supposed to cause the 52-year-old to file a lawsuit.
“Mickelson’s two-year unlawful suspension from his PGA Tour caused significant professional harm, both financially and commercially,” the app said.
But Mickelson has now requested that his name be removed from the lawsuit, the Associated Press wrote, among others, and he was joined by Ian Poulter, Hudson Swafford and Taylor Gooch. Since then, Abraham Uncer, Carlos Ortiz, Jason Kokrac and Pat Perez have also dropped out, leaving only three names to remain: Matt Jones, Peter Oehlen, and Bryson DeChambeau.
Broke with the Swedish star
Phil Mickelson offered no explanation for the withdrawal, only declaring that he was “voluntarily withdrawing his claim” against the other party.
In August, a separate lawsuit was filed against the PGA Tour by Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford, hoping to compete in playoff tour events. The LIV players argued that the US Tour violated competition laws by not allowing them to participate in the playoffs, but a district judge denied their request.
The LIV Tour is controversial due to its association with Saudi Arabia and has been accused of being an example of “sportswashing”. The Swedish Golf Association announced last week that it had ended its collaboration with Swedish star Henrik Stenson after his move to the Tour.