The suit alleges the PGA Tour has broken antitrust law by refusing to let them participate on both the Tour and the new Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf circuit.

Jones, Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford are also seeking a temporary restraining order to allow them to compete in the FedExCup Playoffs, which get under way next week.

Both actions were filed Wednesday. The suit was led by Mickelson and also includes Ian Poulter, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak and Peter Uihlein

They said that they were punished for playing in LIV tournaments.

"As part of its carefully orchestrated plan to defeat competition, the Tour has threatened lifetime bans on players who play in even a single LIV Golf event," the golfers said in the complaint.

"The Tour's conduct serves no purpose other than to cause harm to players and foreclose the entry of the first meaningful competitive threat the Tour has faced in decades," the lawsuit states.

"The purpose of this action is to strike down the PGA Tour's anti-competitive rules and practices that prevent these independent-contractor golfers from playing when and where they choose."

They asked the court to declare the punishments illegal and to award damages and legal fees

Six players who have competed in LIV Golf events are among the top-125 in the FedExCup standings and would be eligible for the start of the PGA Tour's post-season that starts next week.

The PGA Tour has suspended members for playing in LIV Golf events without a release to play in tournaments the same week of a PGA Tour event.

The Wall Street Journal reported that details of the lawsuit indicate the PGA Tour suspended Mickelson in March for allegedly recruiting players to LIV Golf. When he applied for reinstatement in June, the Tour denied it because he had played in the first Saudi event held outside London.

The PGA Tour did not immediately respond to requests for comment but since released the above memo to players that has been widely circulated online.