Dustin Johnson Reportedly Agreed to Contract Worth About $125M to Join LIV Series

The Telegraph and the New York Post reported that the golfer was paid $125 million to join the league.

The Royal Bank of Canada cut ties with Johnson because of his defection from the PGA Tour to the controversial LIV Golf series.

The company said in a statement that it was ending its sponsorship agreement with both players because of their decision to play in the opener.

A number of well-known golfers, including Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, and Talor Gooch, will participate in the London LIV Golf Invitation Series from June 9-11.

The new league is willing to spend a lot of money to get former and current players.

Jack Nicklaus said earlier in May that he was offered $100 million to serve in an executive role, but he told reporters Tuesday that he had no interest in doing that. My loyalties have been to the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson was one of the first golfers to align himself with the league, though he will not participate in London.

The Saudi-backed league was the subject of controversial comments made by golfer Phil Mickelson to his biographer, Alan Shipnuck.

"They're scary motherf--kers to get involved with. We know they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates. They've been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse. As nice a guy as [PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan] comes across as, unless you have leverage, he won't do what's right. And the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage. I'm not sure I even want [the SGL] to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the [PGA] Tour."

Since January, Phil has not played a professional tournament.

Saudi Arabia has a history of human rights violations and sportswashing. The threat of defection has been fought back by the PGA Tour by not granting waivers to players for the London event and threatening to strip players of their membership if they join the league.

He had previously said he would remain with the tour.

He said in a February statement that he was committed to the tour.

On Tuesday, Johnson's agent, David Winkle, released a statement on behalf of the golfer, saying it was in his and his family's best interest to join LIV Golf.