Dustin Johnson to lead field for inaugural $25m LIV Golf Invitational Series

Dustin Johnson, the former world number one, will lead the field for the inaugural $25 million LIV Golf Invitational Series event in England, the new Saudi-backed golf circuit announced Wednesday.

The American two-time major titleholder stated in February that he would remain loyal to the US PGA Tour, but Johnson was one of two top-20 ranked players listed in the field for the 54-hole tournament starting on June 9.

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Former British Open titleholder and world number 20 Louis Oosthuizen is in the field, as are former Masters champions Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia, as well as former US Open champions Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer.

The US PGA Tour has denied the releases to its players for the LIV event, which clashes with the Canadian Open next week.

Despite previously showing support for the lucrative breakaway circuit, six-time major champion Phil Mickelson’s name was missing from the list.

“Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off and on for the past couple of years,” said Johnson’s manager David Winkler in a statement quoted by US media.

“Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family’s best interest to pursue it.”

The prize money for the tournament at Centurion Club in St Albans, north of London, will be $25 million, almost double that of any major, with the winner receiving $4 million.

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Johnson’s apparent change of opinion comes just over three months after he stated he was “committed” to the PGA Tour, as per Winkler.

“Dustin has never had any issue with the PGA Tour and is grateful for all it has given him, but in the end felt this was too compelling to pass up.”

Mickelson, who became golf’s oldest major champion at the age of 50 at last year’s US PGA Championship, has not made any appearance since making outrageous comments about LIV Golf.

He classified the venture’s Saudi backers as “scary,” with a “horrible records on human rights,” but said he was willing to work with them for financial leverage over the PGA Tour.

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