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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Caddie Lawsuit Against PGA Tour Grows In Size; Steve Williams Among Those Added

Attorneys representing a group of caddies in the class-action lawsuit against the PGA Tour "plan to re-file the complaint, expanding the original suit to more than 150 caddies," including Steve Williams, the former caddie for Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, according to Rex Hoggard of GOLFCHANNEL.com. Attorney Gene Egdorf said that he "plans to resubmit the original complaint within 10 days with an estimated 70 more plaintiffs." Williams said, "I don’t think the Tour has treated the caddies in a correct manner for a long time. I think this is a good starting point to get the Tour and the caddies in a better stead.” Williams said that he was "fined numerous times by the Tour, including on at least seven occasions one season, for taking his caddie bib off while he was on the 18th green of a tournament," adding that each fine "cost him $500." Williams: "Caddie bibs are archaic as a piece of clothing. I’m not saying sponsors shouldn’t have some sort of advertising on the caddies, but the ... bib is archaic" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 3/3). GOLF.com's Cameron Morfit wrote the addition of Williams "is a big get for the caddies." Williams has "chosen to step away from the Tour this year but he is perhaps the most famous caddie in golf." However, "not all of the Tour’s most recognized bagmen have joined." Three prominent caddies yesterday said that they "are not part of the lawsuit and asked that their names be kept confidential." One longtime caddie who is part of the suit said that the "legal wrangling began over the caddies’ attempt to self-fund a retirement and health-care benefits program by selling advertising on a small patch affixed to their bibs." The caddie said "we didn't really have a choice" but to take the Tour to court when it balked at the idea. Egdorf said that the amended lawsuit "will include other instances of the caddies being mistreated by the Tour, including being forced to wait out a dangerous storm in a metal shelter at last week’s Honda Classic ... and cancelling a caddie dinner that was to take place during next week’s Valspar Championship outside Tampa" (GOLF.com, 3/3). Hoggard, on Williams joining the lawsuit: "He's going to be an interesting person to add to this lawsuit, not just because he's a big name, but because of the fact he has such a history with the PGA Tour when it comes to these bibs” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 3/4).

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