Former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has officially joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, tournament officials have announced.
DeChambeau confirmed his intention to join to the breakaway circuit on Wednesday and will play in the second event in Portland which starts later this month.
The big-hitting 28-year-old will join the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter who are playing in the inaugural event at the Centurion Club in St Albans this week.
Minutes after the first shots were struck on Thursday, the PGA Tour suspended all 17 players in the field who were taking part, despite having been turned down for the required releases, and said "the same fate holds true" for players participating in future LIV Golf events, so DeChambeau, an eight-time PGA Tour winner including the 2020 US Open, will now also be suspended.
Back in February, DeChambeau denied he was offered £100m to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, and wrote on his official Twitter account: "While there has been a lot of speculation surrounding my support for another tour, I want to make it very clear that as long as the best players in the world are playing the PGA Tour, so will I."
The world No 28, who has struggled with a hand injury in recent months, also distanced himself from the tour as recently as last Thursday, claiming he would not "risk" joining at this stage of his career.
However, he has now had a change of heart with his agent Brett Falkoff saying earlier in the week: "Bryson has always been an innovator. Having the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something unique has always been intriguing to him. Pro golf as we know it is changing and it's happening quickly."
The second tournament of the series is at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland from June 30 to July 2.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who is expected to sign more players ahead of the second event with Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson, among those linked, said: "Bryson DeChambeau is an exciting addition to LIV Golf's supercharged style of play.
"He is passionate about the sport, innovative in his approach and committed to pushing the boundaries in pursuit of excellence.
"He's not afraid to think outside the box and supports our mission of doing things differently to grow our game.
"The power and energy he brings to the course will deliver added electricity to our competition in Portland and beyond."
While many top players have so far shunned the massive money being offered by LIV Golf, the series now boasts eight major winners in its ranks.
The London event, played over 54 holes, with no cuts and shotgun starts, is the richest-ever golf tournament with $4m going to the individual winner and $5m being shared between the top three teams.
No Johnson application for DP World Tour
Dustin Johnson said he plans to only play at golf majors and LIV events following his suspension from the PGA Tour.
Johnson was among the players banned from competing on the PGA Tour following their involvement at this week's inaugural event at Centurion Club. .
However, contrary to reports in the British media, the American has not applied for DP World Tour membership, which would have allowed him to pick up world ranking points and potentially earn a spot at future majors.
Johnson would have to have applied by May 1 to become a DP World Tour member for this season.
Johnson spoke to Sky Sports following the second round of the opening LIV Invitational event at Centurion Club on Friday, where he was asked if there is any legal recourse after being banned by the PGA Tour.
"At this point my plan is to play the LIV events, a few majors, that's it," Johnson replied.
"That's the whole reason I started playing on the LIV, to play less golf, not more.
"What will I do for the other 40 weeks of the year? I can do whatever I want to."
'Bryson DeChambeau is box office'
Sky Sports News reporter Jamie Weir is at the Centurion Club this week and has provided his thoughts on DeChambeau's switch.....
"Bryson DeChambeau he's marmite. Love him or hate him, though, he is box office and fans on the PGA Tour love him. He hits the ball a country mile, he does things as Greg Norman suggested, very differently, he does some quirky things that ruffle a few feathers as well, but he is entertaining to watch.
"So this is yet another big blow to the PGA Tour. It's now 18 players, Bryson DeChambeau included, who will have lost their PGA Tour status and how many more of these superstars can they afford to lose before they perhaps are even forced into an embarrassing climbdown and these guys are told you can stay on the PGA Tour and you can play in the Saudi golf series as well.
"It's a fascinating time at the moment in the world of golf and who knows what is going to happen next."
And on the other PGA Tour players who have been linked with the LIV Series...
"Patrick Reed is a name that I keep hearing. Matt Wolff, a young superstar in the game who has lost his way a little bit, lost a bit of confidence but he is a talent. Jason Kokrak another name that keeps coming up. Pat Perez.
"Rickie Fowler is a name I've heard a lot but as I understand it they still haven't quite got that deal over the line just yet. And Bubba Watson another - he is injured, he is out of action at the moment probably until about the autumn time - but you'd think he would be some stellar name for LIV Golf to get their hands on as well."
Shipnuck expects a compromise
Journalist Alan Shipnuck, who is Mickelson's biographer, believes there will eventually be a compromise to allow the rebel players to continue playing on the PGA Tour.
Speaking to Sky Sports News at the Centurion Club, he said: "I think this is all going to get negotiated and ultimately the players are going to get what they want which is keep their Tour membership but get to play some of the Saudi events.
"Perhaps if the Tour's smart it will forge another strategic alliance where they absorb the Saudi tournaments, play those in the autumn when there's no good golf in the US and then the players get to make their money, the fans get to watch it and the Tour has kind of bought their way out of the competition.
"We don't know how this is all going to play out, and the lawyers are going to be involved surely, but everything is up for grabs.
"It's a very chaotic moment and the whole world order of golf is at stake, but I do think they are going to forge some kind of compromise where it probably helps everyone involved."