<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Golf’s biggest shank: Is Phil Mickelson’s legacy tarnished forever?"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The <a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/golf/2022/06/07/liv-golf-invitational-series-london-dustin-johnson-reporter-removed/7543831001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">LIV Golf Invitational Series</a>, a controversial new league designed to compete with the PGA Tour, will start play Thursday at the Centurion Golf Club in London.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The eight-tournament golf series, <a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2022/05/12/greg-norman-become-despicable-epitome-unabashed-greed/9743062002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">founded by two-time British Open winner Greg Norman</a>, is supported financially by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Saudi Arabia has been criticized for human rights abuses, and <a target="_blank" href="/story/news/world/2021/02/26/mohammad-bin-salman-complicit-jamal-khashoggis-murder-report-says/4490083002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has been accused of sanctioning</a> the 2018 murder and dismemberment of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20492835-assessment-saudi-gov-role-in-jk-death-20210226" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi</a>.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The Official Golf World Ranking will not recognize the event, meaning competitors will not earn any points from participating. This has not stopped more than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12628912/liv-golf-invitational-series-all-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-inaugral-tournamnet-at-centurion-club#:~:text=LIV%20Golf's%20inaugural%20invitational%20tournament,are%20among%20the%20playing%20field" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">40 players</a> from committing to play for the $255 million prize money, which is the richest in golf history.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The London tournament can be streamed on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.livgolf.com/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">company’s website</a>, as well as YouTube and Facebook. Here’s a look at the top players set to compete in this new golf league teeing off Thursday, at 9 a.m. ET (2 p.m. local).</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">LIV GOLF:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/golf/2022/06/08/liv-golf-invitational-series-what-you-need-know/7543893001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|spike click:5|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Controversial new tour begins Thursday. What you should know.</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>OPINION:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2022/06/07/usga-fails-allowing-phil-mickelson-liv-golfers-play-us-open/10004608002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">USGA fails game by allowing LIV golfers to compete at US Open</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">LIV GOLF:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/golf/2022/06/07/liv-golf-invitational-series-london-dustin-johnson-reporter-removed/7543831001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|spike click:7|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Press conference gets heated before inaugural London event</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>OPINION:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/college/columnist/dan-wolken/2022/06/07/liv-golfers-getting-whacked-taking-saudis-money-its-complicated/10002469002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Bashing golfers taking Saudi cash ignores realites of complicated world</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>DON'T MISS OUT:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="https://profile.usatoday.com/newsletters/sports/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Sign up now to get top sports headlines delivered daily</a></p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:437px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/06/07/USAT/cc2de0b0-3f10-4424-bd27-545db2b78717-sergio.jpg?width=660&height=437&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/06/07/USAT/cc2de0b0-3f10-4424-bd27-545db2b78717-sergio.jpg?width=1320&height=874&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="Sergio Garcia lines up a putt on the ninth green during the first round of the 2022 PGA Championship on May 19."/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Dustin Johnson</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Age:</strong> 37</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>World ranking:</strong> 15</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>PGA Tour victories:</strong> 24</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Career money:</strong> $74,276,710</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">On Tuesday, <a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/golf/2022/06/07/dustin-johnson-quits-pga-membership-to-play-in-saudi-league/50338875/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Johnson announced that he...</a></p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2022/06/08/top-pga-tour-golfers-compete-liv-invitational-series-london/10000187002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
