SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A federal decide in California dominated Tuesday that three golfers who joined Saudi-backed LIV Golfing will not be ready to compete in the PGA Tour’s postseason.

U.S. District Court docket Choose Beth Labson Freeman made her selection in San Jose just after lawyers for the sides each and every spoke for about an hour. Freeman claimed she did not look at the golfers faced irreparable damage mainly because of the huge money they were being confirmed by joining LIV, a key challenge in the scenario.

“There simply just is no irreparable hurt in this circumstance,” PGA Tour lawyer Elliot Peters claimed.

The 3 suspended golfers ended up searching for a short-term restraining buy, which Freeman denied. Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and Hudson Swafford claimed they need to be capable to play where by they want to, each individual declaring in letters very last month to the PGA Tour, “I am a absolutely free agent and impartial contractor.” They are amongst 10 players who submitted an antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the PGA Tour last 7 days — which include Phil Mickelson.

Robert Walters, an antitrust litigator representing the golfers, observed this would be their chance on a significant playoff phase, “effectively the Super Bowl of golf” due to the fact of its “significant profits opportunities.” Freeman responded that the LIV Tour earnings likely was also great and questioned no matter if players could have been in a position to wait till the conclusion of the PGA Tour time to depart for the new tour.

Walters argued there ended up only 48 spots and they would have stuffed up according to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, to which Freeman claimed she agreed with that stance but that the golfers stood to obtain much extra monetarily becoming a member of LIV than the funds they could possibly have gained on the PGA Tour.

“This is an terribly appealing financial chance but it’s a great deal additional than that,” Walters claimed, indicating the hurt accomplished is that “players reduce intangible benefits” this sort of as skills for the big tournaments as very well as other marquee invitationals.

“This is the holy grail due to the fact everyone needs to compete in and prevail in main…