LIV Golf's Patrick Reed Loses $750m Defamation Appeal

Patrick Reed, the 34-year-old former Masters champion, has lost an appeal in a $750m defamation suit relating to comments made about his move to the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf League. The American was seeking damages exceeding $750m from companies such as Nike, Draft Kings, Callaway, and Titleist, which he claimed did not renew sponsorship deals with him due to comments made by Golf Channel commentator Brandel Chamblee and others. The defamation suit, which included a podcast remark by Chamblee comparing Saudi leaders to dictators, was dismissed by a Florida judge after Reed failed to plead that the defendants acted with actual malice. Reed can petition the US Supreme Court for a rehearing, but any potential appeal is uncertain.

Key Takeaways:

• Patrick Reed, a 34-year-old former Masters champion, has lost an appeal in a $750m defamation suit against Golf Channel commentator Brandel Chamblee and others.
• Reed claimed he suffered damages exceeding $750m due to comments made after he ditched the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, including a podcast remark comparing Saudi leaders to dictators.
• Reed's defamation suit was dismissed by a Florida judge after he failed to plead that the defendants acted with actual malice.
• The Eleventh Circuit's three-judge panel concluded that Reed failed to plead any defendant acted with actual malice in making any of the statements.
• Reed can petition the US Supreme Court for a rehearing, but any potential appeal is uncertain.
• Reed is currently fourth in the LIV Golf solo league, behind Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm.

Statistics:

• $750m: The amount of damages Reed claimed in his defamation suit.
• 34: Reed's age.
• 3: The number of judges on the Eleventh Circuit panel that dismissed Reed's appeal.

Sources:

• (https://www.cityam.com/liv-trump-yasir-al-rumayyan-and-tiger-woods-meet-in-white-house/)
• (https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/)