LIV Golf confirm Brooks Koepka, breakaway players allowed at The Open

Former world number one Brooks Koepka has joined the lucrative LIV Golf Invitational Series and will compete in their second event in Portland.

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News of the four-times major champion’s move came as The R&A confirmed players who had joined the Saudi-backed breakaway league would be allowed to play at the Open next month.

Koepka joined a list of top players, including six-times major champion Phil Mickelson, former world number one Dustin Johnson and former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who had joined LIV Golf.

“There’s no understating the impact that Brooks Koepka has had on the game of golf in the last five years. He carries a championship pedigree and record of success as one of the most elite players in the world,” LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said.

“The addition of Brooks is yet another example of the incredible fields LIV Golf is assembling as we build momentum in our first season and look towards the future.”

The PGA Tour – on which American Koepka has won eight titles – had suspended members who signed up to play with LIV Golf and said others who follow suit would face the same fate.

The LIV Series will play its first American event in Portland, Oregon from June 30-July 2 at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, going head-to-head with the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic.

When Koepka was asked about LIV Golf at the US Open last week, the 32-year-old criticised the media for constant questions on the issue, saying they only served to throw a “black cloud” over the year’s third major.

Bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf held its first event in London this month which was won by South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who pocketed the US$4 million prize (NZ$6.3 million) – the biggest pay cheque in golf history.

Koepka’s younger brother Chase also played in the inaugural event where the last-placed golfer pocketed $120,000 ($190,000).

– Reuters