Brooks Koepka to quit PGA Tour and join LIV Golf Invitational series | Golf News

Brooks Koepka to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf series; Koepka has removed all references to the PGA Tour from his social media profiles; Koepka will play in second LIV event in Portland next week; world no 20 Abraham Ancer is also joining the series

Brooks Koepka is the latest high-profile player to join the LIV Golf series

Brooks Koepka will quit the PGA Tour and join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational series.

Sky Sports News understands that the four-time major winner – who has removed all references to the PGA Tour from his social media profiles – will tee it up in the second event in Portland next week.

Koepka was asked about defecting prior to last week’s US Open and gave a tetchy response. He said: “I don’t understand. I’m trying to focus on the U.S. 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 on the U.S. Open. I think that sucks.”

But the 32-year-old is set to become the latest big-name to join the controversial series, following the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.

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Brooks Koepka became frustrated at the line of questioning he faced during his US Open press conference, saying that journalists are ‘throwing a dark cloud’ over the competition.

Sky Sports News also understands that world No 20 Abraham Ancer of Mexico will also be joining the LIV series.

It was announced earlier this month any players involved in the LIV Series would be indefinitely suspended from the PGA Tour.

A letter confirming that was sent to PGA Tour members by commissioner Jay Monahan shortly after the opening LIV Golf tournament got under way at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire on June 9.

Seven further LIV tournaments are scheduled for this year with the next taking place at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon from July 3.

The total prize fund across the initial eight LIV events is £200m, with Charl Schwartzel scooping £3.86m when he won the inaugural 54-hole competition at Centurion Club.

Players in the LIV Golf Series have been repeatedly grilled in press conferences about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and whether they are competing in the league solely for monetary reasons.

No Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for LIV events, although CEO Greg Norman says an application will be submitted for that to change.