Dustin Johnson will compete in a £20 million Saudi event alongside Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.

Dustin Johnson has joined the list of PGA rebels heading to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, which begins on June 9 at the Centurion Club in St. Albans.

Johnson stated in February that he was “fully committed” to the PGA Tour, but he is now one of 42 players set to compete in Hertfordshire this month. Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, and British stars Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are also on the list.

Phil Mickelson, who has become closely associated with the Saudi-funded breakaway competition, is not on the starting list but could join as one of six players still to be confirmed by the tournament’s organizers.

David Winkle, Johnson’s agent, told the Golf Channel: “Dustin has been thinking about it for the past two years and has decided that it is in his and his family’s best interests to pursue it. He’s never had a problem with the PGA Tour and is grateful for everything it’s given him, but this was too good to pass up.”

The LIV Golf Invitational Series has been accused of ‘sportswashing’ because it is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Amnesty International has repeatedly stated that accepting such investment is a moral minefield due to the Kingdom’s questionable record on human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender inequality.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as the PIF’s chairman, is accused of ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 after he publicly criticized the Saudi government. Mickelson, 51, previously told author Alan Shipnuck that “we know they killed Khashoggi” before stating that the opportunity to reform the way professional golf is run is too great.