Dustin Johnson spurns RBC Canadian Open commitment for Saudi-funded tournament

Three months after declaring he was "fully committed" to the PGA Tour, Dustin Johnson is among 42 players in the field for next week's LIV Golf Invitational, which offers $25 million US in prize money that's backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

Phil Mickelson was missing from the list that was released Tuesday night. It was his damaging remarks in February that led to Johnson and other top players to say they would stay on the PGA Tour.

The LIV Golf Invitational is scheduled for June 9-11 at Centurion Club outside of London. The PGA Tour and European tour denied releases for players, meaning they risk punishment — possibly a loss of tour membership — by competing.

"Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off and on for the past couple of years. Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family's best interest to pursue it," David Winkler, Johnson's manager at Hambric Sports, told The Associated Press in a text message.

"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."

Johnston, an ambassador for the RBC Canadian Open, said he'd skip the event in Toronto despite being promoted as one of the star performers.

"Together with our partners at RBC, we are disappointed to learn at this late stage that Dustin Johnston has made the decision to play the LIV Golf event," Dan Pino, a senior director of communications for Golf Canada, said in a written statement Tuesday.

"As a past RBC Canadian Open champion, Canadian golf fans were looking forward to DJ's return this year. Our focus continues to be on hosting the widely celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open and welcoming the world's best players to Canada."

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