The Royal Bank of Canada has decided to terminate their sponsor agreement with Graeme McDowell over his decision to play in the opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series next week.
Northern Ireland ace McDowell and World number 13 Dustin Johnson have both lost their lucrative deals with the Canadian Bank as golf's civil war escalates.
Johnson was both the highest-ranked and most surprising golfer named to the field late on Tuesday for the June 9-11 event at Centurion Club outside London that takes place at the same time as the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto.
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"As a result of the decisions made by professional golfers Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell to play the LIV Golf Invitational Series opener, RBC is terminating its sponsorship agreement with both players," RBC said in a statement. "We wish them well in their future endeavours."
Portrush native McDowell was named in the 48-player field alongside former world number one Johnson and Sergio Garcia for the circuit's opening event.
Both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour recently declined all requests from members who had asked for releases to compete at Centurion, where $25 million is up for grabs, including $4 million for the winner.
It is unknown whether those competing in the breakaway circuit's first event, which is being held at the same time as the PGA Tour's Canadian Open, will face punishment.
"The perceived consequences are definitely concerning," said McDowell, who will play in the Asian Tour's International Series England event at Slaley Hall, Newcastle from today (Thursday).
"But as players, we just ask ourselves the question, if we do get banned from the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, for example, is that good for the sport of golf?
"I believe it is not good for the game and I really feel what the guys at LIV have done is they've tried to create a schedule, which especially fits around the PGA Tour."
"It (the series) is designed to co-exist with the other tours in the world and let's just hope that it all works out," McDowell added.
"The unknowns are a little scary, but I am sure it's weighed into the decision of every player that's decided to take the leap. And we just hope that the right decision will be made."
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