McIlroy To Be Deposed In LIV Golf Lawsuit But Woods Accused Of 'Intentionally Evading' Subpoena
Florida antitrust lawsuit attorney to question Rory McIlroy, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods - but claims Woods is evading subpoena
![Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wBkHmLE77mkVg5HJntrnyj-415-80.jpg)
Tiger Woods has been accused of deliberately evading being served with a subpoena to be deposed in the Florida lawsuit against the PGA Tour, while Rory McIlroy and Davis Love III have been served with theirs and are scheduled to be questioned next week.
Attorney Larry Klayman has launched an antitrust suit against the PGA Tour for “an anticompetitive scheme to restrain trade though monopolization, attempted monopolization, group boycotts and other antitrust violations to destroy the new LIV Golf Tour and its players to the detriment of golf fans in Florida.”
The PGA Tour failed to get the lawsuit thrown out last month and now McIlroy and Love III, named as “alleged conspirators” by Klayman’s ‘Freedom Watch’ organisation in their press release, are set to be deposed over the alleged collusion on January 11 and 17 respectively.
Woods has a deposition scheduled for January 13, but Klayman's Freedom Watch release notes that “one of the alleged principal players enlisted by the PGA Tour to allegedly harm LIV Golf and its players, has evaded service of process”.
Klayman says that despite five attempts to serve woods with his subpoena to appear at a deposition, the 15-time Major champion has so far not made himself available.
"Mr. Woods, like all parties and deponents in this case, will be treated with respect. However, as of today, it would appear that Mr. Woods has little respect for our legal right to depose him,” said Klayman in a statement.
“Accepting service for depositions is common practice and Mr. Woods is no different than any other American and has no reason to keep denying service. Given his prior experiences with the law, this is unfortunate.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“As of today, the process server has attempted five (5) different times and Mr. Woods has not made himself available to accept service or have someone else accept service on his behalf. Stay tuned for more updates."
What’s more, a sworn affidavit from civil process server Katelyn Miller, who was trying to deliver the subpoena to Woods, details the five times she tried to get the document to him at his home and his TGR Foundation office.
Miller also states that: “Based on my experience as a process server, Mr. Woods appears to be intentionally evading service.”
As Klayman himself says, “stay tuned for more updates” as the legal wrangling over LIV Golf and how the PGA Tour have dealt with Greg Norman’s company looks set to be taken up a notch when the Florida attorney gets to question these influential golfers.
Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.
-
Race To Dubai Prize Money Payout 2024
As well as the Harry Vardon Trophy, the Race to Dubai winner will earn $2m from a $6m pool, with the rest shared among the top 10 in the standings
By Mike Hall Published
-
Which Golfers Have The Most Top-10s In PGA Tour History?
Top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour are something to be savored, but a handful of players have achieved more than most
By Mike Hall Published
-
Report: PGA Tour's McIlroy And Scheffler To Face LIV Golf's DeChambeau And Koepka In TV Match
A report from Eamon Lynch at Golfweek states that the four stars are set to appear in a made-for-TV contest to be held in Las Vegas in mid-December
By Mike Hall Published
-
Jim Furyk Has One More Presidents Cup Assistant Captain To Name - And It Could Be Tiger Woods
Team USA's assistant captains at the 2024 Presidents Cup may still not be settled with Woods of interest to Furyk and Keegan Bradley in line for a wildcard pick
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Seeking Seve Ballesteros Record At Race To Dubai Finale
McIlroy has been confirmed for the DP World Tour Championship, where he'll aim to match Seve Ballesteros' record of six Order of Merit titles
By Elliott Heath Published
-
'I Hit A Bit Of A Wall' - Rory McIlroy Says He Plans To Reduce Schedule In 2025
The 35-year-old has admitted that his packed schedule in 2024 has taken a toll and that he won't be making quite as many starts next year
By Mike Hall Published
-
'It's Gone On Long Enough' - Rory McIlroy Warns Saudis May Move On If PGA Tour Deal Not Done Soon
Rory McIlroy says the Saudi PIF could "look at alternative options" if they don't get a deal done with the PGA Tour soon
By Paul Higham Published
-
Rory McIlroy Accidentally Breaks Driver As FedEx Cup Woes Continue
The World No.3’s driver shaft snapped after he leaned on it while picking up his tee at Castle Pines Golf Club
By Mike Hall Published
-
Watch A Frustrated Rory McIlroy Throw His Club In The Water At BMW Championship
A frustrated Rory McIlroy reacted to a bad drive at the BMW Championship by tossing his club into the water
By Paul Higham Published
-
Rory McIlroy's Mind-Blowing Stock Yardages For The BMW Championship Including 346-Yard Drives
Rory McIlroy has some eye-watering stock yardages for this week's BMW Championship being played at altitude in Colorado
By Paul Higham Published