McDowell signs with LIV, Nicklaus pledges suspensions

Jack Nicklaus has pledged that his Memorial Tournament will fall in line with the PGA Tour if it bans or suspends players for competing in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

The PGA Tour has refused to grant the likes of Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood the required releases to contest the first event at Centurion Club next week, with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman vowing to "defend, reimburse and represent" any players sanctioned if they play regardless.

Portrush's Graeme McDowell is amongst the names included for the opening event despite recent reports that he was reconsidering his position on the series.

LIV Golf announces field for first event in London next week. Among the big names: Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, Talor Gooch. Not listed: Phil Mickelson. pic.twitter.com/AUlcFD5oS4

The 48-man field for the 54-hole event, which has a prize fund of $20million and offers $3.1million to the winner, has been announced and includes two-time Major champion Dustin Johnson.

However, no details of the scale of any disciplinary measures players could face have been confirmed.

Asked if competing in the LIV events would place invitations to his tournament at risk, Nicklaus said in a pre-event press conference: "The PGA Tour will answer that. I don't think that's my question, frankly.

"We live by the rules of whatever the PGA Tour is. That's what we do."

The Memorial Tournament is an invitational, referred to by the PGA Tour as an "elevated event" along with the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Genesis Invitational. They all have purses of $9.5million with 120-man fields.