IMG Worldwide filed a motion and was granted a temporary restraining order against Jon Wagner, prohibiting the former IMG golf agent from signing IMG players or hiring IMG employees. The Cuyahoga County common pleas court issued the restraining order to restrict Wagner from signing golfers who are currently represented by IMG Golf or any other prospective clients should he launch his own business. The case returns to court on Tuesday, according to the court’s website. Neither side offered comment because the case is pending. Wagner was a longtime IMG exec who worked on events and represented players such as Luke Donald, Sean O’Hair and Trevor Immelman. He became co-Managing Dir of IMG Golf Americas last year, leading the company’s North America and Latin America business with Clarke Jones. But Wagner and IMG parted ways two weeks ago. No reason was given for his departure. Wagner’s exit was followed by defections by two more IMG golf agents, Jeff Stacy and Kevin Lynch. It was after Lynch’s departure on Monday that IMG filed the motion for a restraining order. The court says that Wagner is restrained from soliciting services from or representing IMG clients or prospective clients and specifically refers to O’Hair and Immelman as golfers that Wagner cannot sign. In addition, Wagner is restrained from soliciting or otherwise being involved with hiring Stacy or Lynch or any other IMG employee. Signing IMG players or hiring IMG employees would violate the terms of Wagner’s employee agreement, according to the court.
