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Saudi Arabia's breakaway golf competition has succeeded in luring away some of the PGA Tour 's elite, but Graeme McDowell believes the rivals can co-exist peacefully.

The 2010 U.S. Open champion was named as one of 42 professionals set to play in the inaugural LIV Invitational Series event in Hertfordshire starting June 9. McDowell, 42, conceded it's "a little scary" risking a ban from the PGA schedule, a punishment he does not believe is warranted.

The PGA has confirmed players who feature in the Saudi Golf League's London event will be sanctioned. Still, that wasn't enough to deter the likes of Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter from signing up to take their shot at the $25million (£20m) prize purse.

"The perceived consequences are definitely concerning," said McDowell. "But as players, we just ask ourselves the question, if we do get banned from the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, for example, is that good for the sport of golf?"

He even suggested the two rival tournaments should be able to live in harmony with one another: "I believe it is not good for the game and I really feel what the guys at LIV have done is they've tried to create a schedule, which especially fits around the PGA Tour."

There's already evidence to the contrary considering next week's inaugural event at the Centurion Club in St. Albans clashes with the Canadian Open. After