Former world No 1 Brooks Koepka latest star to sign up for LIV Golf - reports

Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka will leave the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf Invitational Series, according to multiple reports.

The American, who has removed all references to the game’s lead circuit from his social media profiles, is expected to tee it up at the new series’ second event, which takes place in Portland, Oregon, next week. The Daily Telegraph first reported the news on Tuesday.

Koepka, 32, would represent one of the most prominent names to sign up the Saudi Arabia-backed enterprise, following the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau.

LIV Golf’s inaugural event was staged earlier this month, at the Centurion Club just outside London. It carried a prize fund of $25 million, making it the most lucrative tournament in professional golf. At present, the series comprises eight events.

It’s here.Don’t blink.#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/eqJwbfAgrw

The PGA Tour, however, has adopted a zero-tolerance stance towards the series, with commissioner Jay Monahan earlier this month suspending 17 former or current tour players for making the switch.

On Tuesday world No 4 Collin Morikawa quashed rumours he would follow Koepka to LIV Golf, with the two-time major champion tweeting: "To state for the record, once again, you all are absolutely wrong. I've said it since February at Riviera that I'm here to stay on the PGA Tour and nothing has changed."

England's Matt Fitzpatrick, who triumphed in spectacular fashion at the US Open on Sunday, also reiterated his commitment to the established tours, saying: "I think whenever you've got Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy - I saw Collin Morikawa's come out and made a statement today – [world No 1] Scottie Scheffler... I feel like you've got some great players