LIV Golf is facing a major legal challenge that could add another layer of uncertainty to the league’s already complicated future. Two English companies claim the Saudi-backed circuit was built using confidential business plans and ideas they spent years developing, and they are now seeking between $210 million and $630 million in damages.
According to reports, World Golf Group (WGG) and Premier Golf League (PGL) have filed a lawsuit in London’s Commercial Court accusing LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and several individuals and entities of breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy. Court records were reportedly filed in April and, while not yet public, were authenticated by two sources familiar with the case.
Plaintiffs Claim LIV Golf Copied Their Blueprint
At the heart of the lawsuit is a claim that the concept behind LIV Golf was not original. The plaintiffs argue they spent years developing the blueprint for what became the Premier Golf League, including detailed business plans, financial models, player contracts, and league structures, before those ideas were allegedly used without permission.
“The Claimants conceived the idea for a new golf league called the Premier Golf League,” the complaint states. “Over the course of several years, the Claimants refined the format of this league and produced business plans, contracts, financial models and other intellectual property belonging to the Claimants, which provided the blueprint for its launch and success.”
The lawsuit goes even further, alleging that LIV Golf is essentially a copy of the original PGL concept. It describes the Saudi-backed league as a “bald facsimile” and points to several similarities, including shotgun starts, simultaneous individual and team competitions, four-player franchises led by captains, knockout-style team championships, and the original 54-hole tournament format that LIV used before expanding events to 72 holes this season.
The legal complaint traces the project’s origins to 2009, when Andy Gardiner first developed the idea of a global golf league. Richard Marsh later joined as a consultant in 2016, and by 2018 the effort had grown into World Golf Group with roughly 30 founders helping advance the project.
Saudi Investment and Failed Launch Plans
According to the filing, discussions with Saudi Arabia began in 2019. Gardiner and Jed Moore reportedly met with PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan about a potential investment, while Moore had already established contact with Golf Saudi CEO Majed Al Sorour. The plaintiffs allege that Saudi representatives were subsequently granted access to confidential online materials, including business plans, promotional documents, financial projections, and proposed player contracts.
The lawsuit claims the project appeared to be moving toward reality. PGL allegedly secured a $1 billion commitment of shares through Raine Mulligan Co., while the PIF agreed to invest another $490 million, contingent on signing elite PGA Tour players.
The complaint says discussions were held with several prominent golfers and their representatives, including Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Patrick Reed, and Adam Scott. Eleven players were allegedly offered contracts in June 2020.
Despite those efforts, the project struggled to gain traction.
According to the lawsuit, many players hesitated because the PGA Tour warned participants they could face bans, while others feared they would lose opportunities to earn Official World Golf Ranking points by joining the proposed league.
The plaintiffs also claim they explored a partnership with the DP World Tour as another competitive pathway for players. Those discussions ultimately went nowhere after the European circuit entered its strategic partnership with the PGA Tour.
That development, the lawsuit argues, changed Saudi Arabia’s strategy. Rather than remaining a minority investor, the PIF allegedly became interested in taking control of the concept outright. The filing claims Gardiner and Marsh were offered leadership roles, with Marsh eventually resigning from PGL and joining the Saudi-backed effort in May 2021.
LIV’s Future Faces New Questions
Just over a year later, LIV Golf officially launched under CEO Greg Norman.
The league quickly grabbed headlines by offering enormous guaranteed contracts that persuaded stars including Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and later Jon Rahm to leave the PGA Tour. Its first event was played in June 2022, beginning one of the most controversial periods in professional golf.
While LIV succeeded in attracting top talent, questions about its long-term financial sustainability have intensified. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has reportedly invested more than $5 billion into the league since its launch. After years of speculation, Saudi officials recently announced they would no longer provide funding beyond the 2026 season.
Several of LIV’s biggest stars, including Rahm, Johnson, DeChambeau, and Mickelson, remain under contract, although Mickelson has appeared in only one event this year. Their long-term future remains uncertain, as LIV CEO Scott O’Neil reportedly seeks approximately $300 million in outside funding to keep the league operating beyond 2026.
LIV Golf has not publicly responded to the allegations. ESPN reported that the league did not return a request for comment. If the case proceeds, it could force a detailed examination of how the breakaway league was developed, who had access to confidential planning documents, and whether the ideas behind one of golf’s biggest disruptions were lawfully obtained.
