Masters champion Scottie Scheffler has labelled the antitrust lawsuit filed by 11 LIV Golf Series stars against the PGA Tour "frustrating".
The group, which includes Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Bryson DeChambeau, filed the lawsuit in an attempt to challenge the Tour's decision to suspend them from PGA events. And when asked about the lawsuit, Scheffler replied: "I'm definitely curious to see what's going to happen.
"It's one of those deals where those guys kind of made their decision to go join another tour and they broke the rules and regulations of our tour and now they're trying to sue us, which is definitely a bit frustrating.
"I heard that was going to happen and I know some guys aren't surprised to see it, but I definitely am surprised to see some guys now suing us. I think it's being discussed a decent amount, just because it's a life-altering decision for people.
"When you do go join another tour and you break the rules that we have out on our tour, yeah, I understand we're independent contractors, but at the same time there's certain rules that you have to follow as being a member of an organization."
The PGA Tour have also hit back at the lawsuit, with commissioner Jay Monahan claiming in a memo written to players that the LIV golfers are attempting to "freeride on your benefits and efforts".
"We have been preparing to protect our membership and contest this latest attempt to disrupt our Tour, and you should be confident in the legal merits of our position," Monahan wrote. "With the Saudi Golf League on hiatus, they're trying to use lawyers to force their way into competition alongside our members in good standing.
"It's an attempt to use the Tour platform to promote themselves and to freeride on your benefits and efforts. To allow re-entry into our events compromises the Tour and the competition, to the detriment of our organization, our players, our partners and our fans.
"The lawsuit they have filed somehow expects us to believe the opposite, which is why we intend to make our case clearly and vigorously.
"This is your Tour, built on the foundation that we work together for the good and growth of the organization...and then you reap the rewards. It seems your former colleagues have forgotten one important aspect of that equation."
