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"It's hard to speak on what the consequences might be but I've
resigned my membership of the Tour and that's the plan for now,"
Johnson told a news conference at the Centurion Club, north of
London, host of the first of eight events.
Johnson is the second golfer to resign from the PGA Tour to join
the contentious new event which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's
Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Fellow American Kevin Na said he had also chosen that option
last week.
The PGA Tour last week reiterated a warning to members that
those featuring in the breakaway circuit would be "subject to
disciplinary action".
On Monday, six-time major champion Phil Mickelson became the
highest-profile player to commit, ending a self-imposed hiatus
from the sport that began in February, amid a backlash over
comments he made about the breakaway series.
Both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have 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.
The lucrative new series will have a novel format with 48
players competing both as individuals and as part of teams.
Each event will be played over 54 holes rather than the
traditional 72 with shotgun starts to facilitate quicker play.
Johnson said he still planned to play in this month's U.S. Open,
which he won in 2016, but said the decision to play in the LIV
Invitational Series was in the best interests of his family.
"I can't answer for the majors, but hopefully they're going to
allow us to play. Obviously I'm exempt for the major so I plan
on playing there, unless I hear otherwise," he added.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Catherine Evans and
Christian Radnedge)
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