WhatsApp exchanges between Sergio Garcia and LIV Golf supremo Greg Norman have revealed the panic many players felt at the prospect of a ban from the PGA Tour.
A total of 17 players were suspended by the golf body in June after indicating their intention to play at the inaugural LIV Golf Series event. Seven more names were then added to that list in early July, though a group of 11 have responded by filing an antitrust lawsuit to challenge their suspension from the PGA Tour.
Major-winners Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau are both named in the suit, which has called upon text evidence to illustrate the general sense of fear over bans. Norman—the CEO of LIV Golf Investments—can be seen attempting to calm Garcia, who joined the defection in June.
"I just wanted to see how things are going with the League, cause it seems like a lot of those guys that were loving it and excited about it last week, now are s****ing in their pants," read the message sent by Garcia on February 11, as revealed by Golf Magazine.
"Morning. All going very well," replied Norman. "I have not heard the white noise of s****ing their pants. Who are you referencing so I can run a check?"
Garcia, 42, suggested the PGA Tour had been successful in cautioning some younger players and had "scared them a bit." Norman again asked for specific names so that he could "reach out to them."
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"In regards to the Tour if they were going to ban players they would have already," added the Australia. "They know they cannot hence no action outside of verbal threats. If you can get them or any player threatened to get it [in writing] fantastic. Thanks."
"'It's official," replied Garcia. "Tour has told our managers this week that whoever signs with the League, is ban[ned] from the Tour for life! I don't know how are we gonna get enough good players to join the League under [these] conditions. What do you think?"
Norman went on to assert that the PGA "cannot ban you for one day let alone life," referring to the prospect as "a shallow threat." It turned out to be more than that, however, given the Tour has since suspended two dozen from featuring in its competitions.
According to the lawsuit, Mickelson, 52, is among the most severe examples after he was initially banned until 2023, then had that extended until March 2024 after featuring in LIV's Portland event.
The lawsuit alleges that suspension from the PGA Tour would cause their careers 'irreparable harm', with it also being said is part of a 'carefully orchestrated plan to defeat competition'. If successful, the banned players would be free to compete in lucrative LIV events, as well as PGA Tour competitions.
Three LIV defectors named in the suit were denied temporary restraining orders to play three Fed-Ex Cup Playoffs after it was ruled they were aware of the risks. U.S. District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman ruled Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford therefore must adhere to the ban.
