The Wall Street Journal published an article Wednesday stating that the Department of Justice is conducting an antitrust investigation into professional golf and that the Augusta National Golf Club is part of that investigation.
Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the newspaper also named the United States Golf Association and the PGA Tour as part of the investigation.
The PGA Tour is at odds with the Saudi-backed LIV golf group.
The LIV tour has attracted some of the PGA’s players including Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell and caused feuding among players, according to Associated Press reports.
The Wall Street Journal contends “The DOJ investigation, however, is wider than was previously known, extending to some of the other most important bodies in golf. People familiar with the matter said those groups include Augusta National, which oversees the iconic Masters tournament each spring. The famously secretive club has produced documents for the Justice Department probe, these people said.”
The New York Times followed with its own separate article later Wednesday afternoon.
“The United States Golf Association, which administers the U.S. Open, acknowledged on Wednesday that the Justice Department had contacted it in connection with an investigation. Augusta National Golf Club, which organizes the Masters Tournament, and the P.G.A. of America, which oversees the P.G.A. Championship, have also drawn the gaze of antitrust officials,” the Times reported.
LIV Golf is involved in antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and the Augusta National is mentioned in that suit, according to the Associated Press.
