Golf

PGA Tour countersues LIV Golf, alleging interference with tour golfers’ contracts (Athletic, The) The PGA Tour countersued LIV Golf late Wednesday night in the latest legal volley between the two organizations as they struggle over golf’s future.The PGA Tour accused the Saudi-backed LIV Golf of tortiously interfering with the tour’s contracts with golfers who defected to the upstart rival. LIV, and three golfers, are suing the PGA Tour for antitrust violations. In a 72-page filing Wednesday, the PGA denied that claim and then added its countersuit charges.

Patrick Reed Targets More Defendants in Refiled Defamation Lawsuit (Front Office Sports) Former Masters champion Patrick Reed dropped his federal defamation lawsuit in Texas and re-filed it shortly after in Florida on Wednesday — taking aim at more on-air talent and a newspaper company. 
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee is a carryover from the first case filed in August, but the new civil complaint also includes hosts Damon Hack, Shane Bacon, and Eamon Lynch. 

X-Golf Tops 100-Location Milestone For Its Indoor Simulator Experience (Forbes SportsMoney) Just a handful of years ago, X-Golf America had about a dozen entertainment simulator locations. Today, the brand has topped the 100-location milestone, with 62 venues open and another 40 in development around the country, making it one of golf’s fastest-growing companies. And many more are on the way. 

DP World Tour and Emirates extend global partnership (SportsPro Insider) Golf’s DP World Tour and Emirates have extended their global partnership in a deal that will see the airline remain an official sponsor of the European-based circuit until the end of 2024.
Emirates will continue to benefit from highly visible branding across 21 DP World Tour events, as well as being an official partner at 14 tournaments. The airline will also retain its premium hospitality access and exclusive experiential elements. 
Additionally, the UAE flag carrier will maintain its broadcast integration with the DP World Tour’s ‘Virtual Eye’ animated graphics that provide real-time data about player performance and the ‘Emirates Fly Better Moments’ digital content strand.

Golf and volleyball buck trend of school sports decline (AXIOS Sports) Participation is down among the 10 most popular boys and girls high school sports compared to the last full pre-pandemic school year, save for two: boys golf and girls volleyball.
By the numbers: The top 10 for boys and girls is the same (albeit in a slightly different order) as it was in 2018-19, the last time the National Federation of State High School Associations compiled its annual survey.