Judge Won’t Lift O’Grady’s Suspension

Golfer Mac O’Grady suffered a setback Monday when a federal judge in San Diego refused to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent O’Grady’s six-event suspension from the PGA Tour.

O’Grady will not be eligible to compete until the Southern Open on Oct. 2, although he will be able to play in the World Series of Golf, a non-Tour event Aug. 22 at Akron, Ohio.

“This was one little battle in the whole war,” said Stephen Novak, O’Grady’s lawyer. “It’s a setback, but it’s not over. The judge made a determination on some very tough issues. It’s a very complicated, gray area.”

PGA Commissioner Deane Beman had leveled a $5,000 fine and one-year probation along with the suspension, accusing O’Grady of conduct unbecoming a professional golfer after O’Grady criticized him repeatedly during a feud that began with O’Grady’s alleged criticism of a tournament volunteer two years ago in New Orleans.

O’Grady was in Toledo, Ohio, Monday for the PGA Championship, an event not sponsored by the PGA Tour. Novak said he would discuss his next move with O’Grady.