Famed Augusta National Golf Club swept up in DOJ antitrust probe: report

The Division of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the famed Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership as a part of its antitrust probe into the world {of professional} golf, the Wall Avenue Journal reported on Wednesday. 

The probe, which initially appeared solely to focus on the PGA Tour, has expanded to incorporate the host of the enduring Masters Event, which has reportedly produced paperwork for the Justice Division, in keeping with the Wall Avenue Journal.

The USA Golf Affiliation, the U.S. governing physique of the game, can also be being investigated and mentioned it plans to completely adjust to any requests, per the Wall Avenue Journal.

The Wall Avenue Journal first reported in July that the DOJ had launched an investigation into the PGA Tour over allegations of anticompetitive conduct within the face of the upstart LIV Golf tour. 

The PGA Tour, which doesn’t permit its gamers to compete in different televised golf tournaments with out its permission, has banned and fined gamers which have determined to hitch the Saudi-backed league.

Phil Mickelson and a number of other different gamers who’ve defected to LIV Golf filed an antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the PGA Tour in August, accusing the tour of being an “entrenched monopolist with a vice-grip on skilled golf.”

The DOJ didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Augusta Nationwide advised The Hill nobody was accessible to remark.