Four-time grand champion Brooks Koepka is the last golfer to deviate from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf Invitational Series, ESPN sources confirmed.
Koepka, 32, is one of the most famous players to join the breakaway chain, which is funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and is led by two-time Open winner Greg Norman.
LIV Golf is expected to announce the addition of Koepka in the coming days, sources confirmed. Koepka, ranked 19th in the official world golf rankings, is expected to compete in the first LIV golf event in the United States, at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon, on June 30.
The upcoming departure of Koepka from the PGA Tour was first announced on Tuesday by the Telegraph of London.
A source confirmed that Abraham Anser, who is 20th in the world, is also leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
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LIV Golf has already signed with eight of the top 50 players in the world; Bryson DeShambo (30th) and Patrick Reed (38th) are also expected to compete in Portland.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan eliminated 17 players, including Johnson and six-time grand winner Phil Mickelson, for the first LIV Golf event outside London two weeks ago. Monahan said touring players competing in future LIV Golf tournaments without issuing a conflict event would face a similar penalty.
Monahan meets players on Tuesday morning at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. The PGA Tour Players’ Advisory Board also met on Tuesday.
Monahan is scheduled to speak to the media on Wednesday.
In 2019, Koepka became the first player in history to hold consecutive victories in two major championships simultaneously; he won the US Open in 2017-18 and the PGA Championship in 2018-19.
Koepka joins her brother Chase, who competes in the London-based LIV event. His longtime friend, two-time grand champion Dustin Johnson, also signed with LIV Golf.
Koepka has been the world’s number one player for 47 weeks, but in recent months has been worried about injuries to his back, thigh and wrist. Koepka has two top 10 in 15 starts, but did not perform well in the first three major tournaments this season. He missed the Masters’ cut, tied for 55th in the PGA Championship and was 55th in the US Open last week at The Country Club outside of Boston.
Koepka is 84th in the FedEx Cup rankings. He is in the field for the Travelers Championship.
Koepka criticized reporters last week for throwing a “black cloud” over the US Open with questions about LIV Golf.
“I’m here at the US Open,” he said. “I’m ready to play in the US Open and I think it’s also nasty that you’re all throwing this black cloud over the US Open. This is one of my favorite events. I don’t know why you keep doing so many more legs [LIV Golf]the more you keep talking about it. “
Anser, a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States, played in Oklahoma. He won his first and only victory on the PGA Tour at WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis in August. He also finished in the top 10 in each of the last two PGA championships, including a draw for ninth at the Southern Hills last month.
Anser withdrew from the US Open last week at the last minute, citing illness. He is not in the field for the Passengers.
Ancer was one of the highlights for the international team in the Presidents Cup 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. He had a 3-1-1 record, with his only loss to Tiger Woods in a singles match.
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