Patrick Reed has filed a $750 million defamation lawsuit against US TV channel The Golf Channel and its commentator Brandel Chamblee.
The filing says “calculated, malicious, false and reckless attacks” caused major damage to 2018 Masters champion Reed.
The 32-year-old American suggests the comments cost him several multi-million dollar endorsement deals.
Chamblee and The Golf Channel have yet to respond to Reed’s accusations.
Reed joined the LIV Golf Series in June.
The lawsuit alleges that Chamblee and the network “actively targeted Reed since he was 23, to destroy his reputation, create hatred and a hostile work environment for him, and with intent to discredit his name and accomplishments. as a young, elite, world-class golfer.
Reed goes on to accuse Chamblee of “stating misinformation” with “a reckless disregard for the truth.”
A number of top players have left the US-based PGA Tour for the £1.6bn Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour. The PGA Tour responded by imposing indefinite bans on players who engaged in LIV Golf and increasing prize money for several of its own tournaments.
Reed’s is one of many expected legal battles between players on the LIV Golf Circuit and PGA Tour, while players, such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, met this week to discuss the threat of the Saudi-funded tour.