Two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson has quit the PGA Tour with immediate effect on the eve of the opening LIV Golf event.
As world No13, the American is the highest-ranked player in the field of the event, which gets under way at Centurion Golf Club in St Albans on Tuesday.
The PGA Tour had previously threatened to sanction any players joining LIV Golf although event CEO Greg Norman insisted there was no need for PGA Tour resignations.
Johnson becomes the second LIV Golf player to resign from the PGA Tour after Kevin Na.
Explaining his decision, the 37-year-old American said: “I don’t want to play for the rest of my life. This gives me the opportunity to do what I want to do.”
As it stands, former world No1 Johnson is expected to be eligible to play in next week’s US Open but, not being part of the PGA Tour, would be barred for competing in future Ryder Cups.
He admitted that impact had been in his decision making but added: “The Ryder Cup is unbelievable and has meant a lot to me but ultimately I decided this was best for me and my family.
“All things are subject to change and hopefully at some point it will change and I will get a chance to do that again.”
