Johnson makes U-turn to headline Saudi-backed event; Mickelson not listed

Dustin Johnson, the former world No 1 who committed himself to the PGA Tour in February, has been named in the field for the opening Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series event in Hertfordshire starting next week.

Johnson, 37, is the biggest previously-unreported name in the field, which does not include Phil Mickelson. The circuit, seen as a potential rival to the PGA Tour, became controversial for accepting financing from Saudi backers, with the Centurion Club event boasting a total prize fund of £20m and £3m to the winner.

Other notable names in the field include Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Richard Bland, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na, Talor Gooch, Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace.

The PGA Tour did not grant its members a release to play in the event, which will be contested from June 9-11, opposite the Canadian Open.

Johnson - who won the Canadian Open in 2018 - and other members could face punishment for choosing the LIV Golf event without the Tour's permission.

LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman said: "Free agency has finally come to golf.

"This is an opportunity to start a movement that will change the course of history by bringing new and open competition to the sport we all love.

"The desire shown by the players to participate in LIV Golf demonstrates their emphatic belief in our model and confidence in what we're building for the future."

Johnson, who has dropped from third to No 13 in the world this year, is the highest-ranked player listed in the field.

The former world No 1 previously said in a statement that he was "fully committed to the PGA Tour".

However, following the announcement of his place in the field, Johnson's manager David Winkle said: "Dustin has been contemplating the