Johnson joins SA's Oosthuizen, Schwartzel in $25m field for Saudi-backed LIV Golf opener

Former world number one Dustin Johnson will head the field for the inaugural $25 million LIV Golf Invitational Series event in England, the new Saudi-backed golf circuit said on Wednesday.

The American two-time major champion said in February that he would stay loyal to the US PGA Tour, but in an apparent U-turn Johnson was one of two top-20 ranked players listed in the field for the 54-hole tournament starting on 9 June.

Former BOpen champion and world number 20 Louis Oosthuizen, former Masters champions Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia, plus former US Open champions Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer are also in the field.

The PGA Tour has refused to grant releases for its players in the LIV event, which clashes with next week's Canadian Open.

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson's name was absent despite previously expressing support for the money-spinning breakaway circuit.

"Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off and on for the past couple of years," said Johnson's manager David Winkler in a statement quoted by US media.

"Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family's best interest to pursue it."

The tournament at Centurion Club at St Albans, north of London, will have the largest purse in golf history at $25 million, almost double that of any major, with $4 million going to the winner.

Winkler went on to explain Johnson's apparent change of mind, a little over three months since he stated he was "committed" to the PGA Tour.

"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."

Mickelson, who became golf's oldest major champion at last year's US PGA Championship at age 50, hasn't played since making