Bryson DeChambeau, the U.S. 2020 Open champion, joins the LIV Golf Invitational Series, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, also joins the LIV series, according to several reports.
DeChambeau and Reed are expected to compete in the first LIV Golf event in the United States, scheduled for Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon, from June 30 to July 2.
A spokesman for LIV Golf declined to comment.
“Bryson has always been an innovator,” DeChambeau agent Brett Falkoff of GSE Worldwide told ESPN on Wednesday. “Having the opportunity to get on the ground floor of something unique has always been intriguing to him. Professional golf as we know it is changing and happening fast.”
It would be again for the PGA Tour, which denied the throwing of conflicting events to players who asked them to compete in LIV golf tournaments. The events are being funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
DeChambeau and Reed are two of the most polarizing players on the tour.
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The additions of DeChambeau and Reed would give LIV Golf at least nine major former champions who have jumped from the PGA Tour. Six-time senior champion Phil Mickelson, the two big winners Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer and four more: Sergio Garcia (Master 2017), Charl Schwartzel (Master 2011), Graeme McDowell (US Open 2010) and Louis Oosthuizen (Open 2010) . Championship) – are competing in the inaugural LIV Golf event, which starts on Thursday at the Centurion Club on the outskirts of London.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has threatened players who competed without release with possible penalties, including fines, suspensions and / or bans. A handful of players, including Johnson, Garcia, Schwartzel and Kevin Na, have given up the tour.
DeChambeau, 28, was one of LIV Golf’s first targets. He told the Memorial last week that he planned to continue playing on the PGA Tour.
“I think that’s mostly, much of it is private,” DeChambeau said. “There’s really no conversation to be had about it, other than the fact that, like now, everyone here has their own opinion on this. I obviously have a lot of conversation. For me personally. , I don’t have it, I think right now I’m in a place in my career where I can risk things like this.
“I’m loyal to my family that I’ve created around me with sponsors and everything. And right now, the golf world is probably going to change somehow. I don’t know what that is. It’s not my job. To do it. I’m just going to keep playing professional golf and enjoy it wherever I go, playing with the best players in the world – that’s really all I have, that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, because I want to be one of best players in the world “.
DeChambeau, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, has only made six starts this season due to a left hand injury, which required surgery in April. It ranks 28th in the official world golf rankings.
Reed, 31, has nine PGA Tour victories and has earned nearly $ 37 million during his touring career. Reed struggled after being hospitalized with double pneumonia in August. It is ranked 36th in the world.
Current PGA champion Justin Thomas, speaking on Wednesday from the PGA Tour stop in Canada, reiterated previous thoughts that his teammates have the right to choose where they want to play.
“You know, it’s a shame. I mean, I think a lot of us are, I don’t know if annoying or tired is the right word. I mean, it’s just one of those things,” he said.
“I don’t like DJs [Dustin Johnson] now, “he continued.” I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I will not treat him differently. It’s like you have a right to choose as you please. Like I said, it doesn’t make him a bad person. I’m disappointed now and I wish he and the others hadn’t, but that’s his decision. “
ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren contributed to this report.