The Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour is expected to shortly announce at least two other high-profile defections, with four-time major champion Brooks Koepka believed to be one of those on the verge of deserting the PGA Tour.
The floodgates could be about to open, with Koepka, fellow major champion Collin Morikawa, world No.8 Viktor Hovland and five-time PGA Tour winner Xander Schauffele all rumoured to be contemplating jumping ship.
LIV Golf kicked off earlier this month with its inaugural event outside London, and moves to the United States next week with a tournament in Portland.
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The rebel tour has been criticised for signing up players who are either no longer a competitive force, or those who never will be, while the established stars remain loyal to the PGA Tour.
That narrative could go out the window if Morikawa, who is currently the world No.4, Hovland, Schauffele (No.15) and Koepka (No.19) all sign with LIV Golf.
Dustin Johnson (No.16) played in the LIV event in England.
Other names who’ve been mentioned include Abraham Ancer (No.20), Harold Varner III (No.37) and five-time PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler, who has struggled for form in recent years but has 11 top-10 finishes in majors in the last decade, most recently at last year’s PGA Championship.
Koepka, whose brother Chase has already signed with LIV Golf, has dropped what could be a big clue about his future plans, removing any reference to the PGA Tour from his Twitter bio.
That move comes less than a week after he slammed reporters at the US Open for questioning him about the rebel league’s first tournament, which he felt was overshadowing one of the season’s biggest events.
https://twitter.com/NoLayingUp/status/1539059837648179200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/flushingitgolf/status/1537437085866467331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“I haven’t given it that much thought,” he said.
“I don’t understand. I’m trying to focus on the US Open, man. I legitimately don’t get it. I’m tired of the conversations, I’m tired of all this stuff.
“Like I said, y’all are throwing a black cloud over the US Open. I think that sucks. I actually do feel bad for them for once because it’s a shit situation. We’re here to play, and you are talking about an event that happened last week.”
Koepka’s long-time nemesis, Bryson DeChambeau, is reported to have received $140 million to sign with LIV Golf.
The PGA Tour is reportedly set to announce a series of measures designed to keep players loyal to its tour, including three limited field, big money events.
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