Earlier this year, a LIV Golf team rebranded—and now the league has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a trademark infringement lawsuit with an Ohio-based golf tee manufacturer that has a nearly identical name.
Stinger Golf, a company that says it produces more than 20 million golf tees each year, originally sued LIV on June 2, 2025, in Florida federal court seeking $100 million. The case centered around the LIV team formerly known as Stinger Golf Club, which was one of the original four-man LIV teams when the league launched in 2022. The Stinger Golf company accepted LIV’s offer to pay $1 million to close the case, according to a July 6 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Stinger Golf Club rebranded to Southern Guards GC in January ahead of the 2026 LIV season beginning in February. The team’s roster consists entirely of South African players, captained by 2010 Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen. The Southern Guards branding includes imagery of a rhino, as South Africa is home to more than 80% of the animal’s global population. Previous primary team branding included a sketched “S” and “Stinger GC” scripting.
The logo for the Stinger Golf tee company includes a flying insect resembling a bee or hornet. The lawsuit alleged unauthorized use of the Stinger name in connection with the LIV team and related merchandise, despite the Stinger Golf company’s existing trademarks. Several applications by LIV for trademarks around “Stinger GC” were ultimately abandoned. Stinger Golf was founded in 1998 and purchased by its current owner and president, Louis Rittberger, in 2007. Its product is available in golf retail locations throughout the U.S. and online.
