Dustin Johnson defies PGA Tour, headlines field for LIV Golf event

One notable name not on the list was Phil Mickelson. Mickelson received a ton of backlash following his remarks about the Tour earlier this year.

Many players on the PGA Tour have released statements affirming their commitment to staying on the Tour in response to Mickelson, including Johnson.

“I am fully committed to the PGA Tour,” Johnson said in a statement released in February. “I am grateful for the opportunity to play on the best tour in the world and for all it has provided me and my family. While there will always be areas where our Tour can improve and evolve, I am thankful for our leadership and the many sponsors who make the PGA Tour golf’s premier tour.”

However, Johnson's agent, David Winkle, released a statement to various outlets Tuesday saying Johnson continued to weigh the offer. "Dustin’s been contemplating this for the past two years and decided it was in his and his family’s best interest to pursue it," Winkle said. "He’s never had any issue with the PGA Tour and is grateful for all it’s given him but in the end felt this was too compelling to pass up.”

Earlier this month, the Tour announced that it would deny waivers to players seeking to compete in LIV Golf events.

A memo to members read, “As a membership organization, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”

Johnson and the other Tour players are potentially risking a loss of membership by competing next week.

The LIV Golf Invitational will take place at the Centurion Club in London from June 9-11. The tournament offers $25 million in prize money that is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.