LIV Golf 'in secret $60m legal dispute over claims of COPYING its competition format' that helped entice star golfers such as Jon Rahm and Cam Smith from PGA Tour

LIV Golf is reportedly involved in a secret legal dispute with a group behind a previous breakaway attempt in the sport that had a near-identical framework to the Saudi rebel tour.

Premier Golf League, fronted a British corporate finance lawyer, had formed plans to tempt players into a league of 18 events across 54 holes with a shotgun start and lucrative prizemoney on offer.

The Times has now reported that PGL have been seeking around $60million in compensation but may settle for a figure in excess of $10m.

The publication also says that PGL were backed by US merchant bank Raine Capital and even approached Rory McIlroy in 2014 over the concept, only to be rejected.

McIlroy has been one of the most vociferous critics of LIV, although has softened his stance of late - especially since friend Jon Rahm defected and join last December. 

LIV Golf is reportedly involved in a legal dispute with Premier Golf League over its format 

PGL even reportedly approached Rory McIlroy about their ideas over a breakaway league 

LIV's format has helped bring across players such as Cam Smith (pictured) to its circuit 

The PGL apparently struggled to continue with its momentum, The Times says, around when the DP World Tour and PGA Tour announced a strategic alliance in 2020. 

Soon after, LIV staged its first competition in 2022 with a number of star players joining the setup and plunging the world of golf into civil war.

Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia were among the star names to join the tour from the very beginning. 

Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau soon followed and other landmark names have joined such as Cam Smith and, recently, Rahm.

The Spaniard signed a deal worth around $500million to play on the tour, something his friend McIroy said was 'opportunistic' due to LIV and the PGA Tour attempting to negotiate a merger.

'It’s a smart business move. It’s opportunistic. He sees that things will come back together,' McIlroy said. 'He’s in a lucky position, he’s exempt from all the majors. 

'There’s not one person who wouldn’t want him on our Ryder Cup team because of how good he is. He was in a great position to where there wasn’t a ton of risk involved for him to go. 

'I have no problem with Jon going if he thinks that’s the right decision for him and his family. Who am I to say anything different at this point?

LIV Golf has been approached for comment on the dispute.