LIV Golf Invitational Series: Players involved, prize money and how to watch

Phil Mickelson will compete in the opening event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series this week, the six-time major winner has confirmed.

The 51-year-old has not played since controversial comments about the breakaway series and the PGA Tour were published in February, but he will participate in the tournament at Centurion Club which begins on Thursday. 

And on the eve of the tournament, two other big names in Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are to be announced as joining the circuit, though will not play in the opening event. 

Mickelson is one of six players added to the list of competitors for this week's event, completing a 48-man field - and Telegraph Sport breaks down what you need to know ahead of the rebel circuit's opener.

DeChambeau and Reed will not play in the opening event but Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are the star names in the inaugural field, with other notable participants including Englishmen Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Richard Bland, Germany's Martin Kaymer and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace. Rickie Fowler is also close to be confirmed, Telegraph Sport understands. 

The complete field for the opening event is here:

The breakaway circuit begins at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire, before moving to the United States for three stops. 

It then has two events in Bangkok and Saudi Arabia, before the tour finishes at Trump Doral in Miami at the end of October.

The 48-man field will play across 12 teams of four players, which will be determined at a draft on June 7.

The first seven regular season events will consist of three 54-hole events, with no cut and shotgun starts, while the final event will be a four-day team matchplay knockout. 

Video: Dustin