Graeme McDowell's replacement for LIV Golf Greenbrier has been confirmed after the Northern Irishman was banned for one tournament as a result of violating the league's anti-doping policy.
McDowell revealed on social media that he had been randomly selected for a test as part of LIV's anti-doping program and "had mistakenly used an over-the-counter medicated decongestant stick for congestion that included a banned substance" - resulting in a positive test for R-methamphetamine.
He will now miss the penultimate event in LIV's regular season and has been fined $125,000 as well as having to hand back the $128,000 he won at LIV Golf Nashville. McDowell's individual results and his team's total that week has also been disqualified, with prize money and points retroactively adjusted.
With the 2010 US Open champion temporarily out of the picture, Golf Monthly has been told that John Catlin will tee it up for Smash GC this weekend, moving over from Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC - where he had been covering for the injured Charles Howell III.
However, with the American back to full health and ready for a first appearance since LIV Golf Singapore in May, Catlin was set to lose a tee time with the PIF-backed competition until news of McDowell's misdemeanour broke on Sunday.
pic.twitter.com/y2jwwlndhAAugust 11, 2024
Catlin - who is in line to earn a full-time LIV Golf spot next season anyway thanks to leading the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and International Series Rankings - has risen up the LIV Golf money list quite quickly in just four starts having banked a little over $1million.
He earned $182,500 for a 24th-place finish on his LIV Golf debut in Houston prior to picking up $562,500 after his best result so far - a T7 effort at LIV Golf Nashville. $201,667 was pocketed by Catlin as a result of finishing at LIV Golf Andalucia, and a further $145,200 came his way after a 34th-place result at LIV Golf UK last time out.
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Richard Bland Makes Albatross At LIV Golf Mexico CityThe Cleeks GC player found the hole with just his second shot at the par-5 16th during the second round of the tournament
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Bryson DeChambeau Produces 377 Yard Average Off The Tee At LIV Golf Mexico CityThe American had the driver firing during his first round in Mexico City, with DeChambeau producing mammoth drive after mammoth drive at Club de Golf Chapultepec
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How Many LIV Golfers Have Qualified For the PGA Championship?Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka are just two of 13 players from LIV Golf who will be able to tee it up at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
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Watch Bryson DeChambeau Smash 400+ Yard Monster Drive In LIV Golf Mexico PracticeDeChambeau is hitting mega drives this week in the 7,800ft altitude setting of Golf Club de Chapultepec in Mexico City
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Ping Joins Callaway As Second Manufacturer To Sponsor LIV Golf TeamPing has signed a deal to sponsor Joaquin Niemann's LIV Golf team Torque GC just ahead of the event in Mexico
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Wesley Bryan Confirms He Will Appeal ‘Indefinite’ PGA Tour SuspensionThe YouTube content creator has confirmed he will be appealing the PGA Tour’s decision to suspend him for taking part in the LIV Golf: The Duels match
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Why Does Tyrrell Hatton Wear The Topgolf Logo On His Hat?The Englishman has the driving-range company on his cap due to a deal involving his LIV Golf League team, Legion XIII and Callaway
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LIV Golf Leaderboard At The Masters: Bryson DeChambeau Two Back Heading Into Final Round At Augusta NationalBryson DeChambeau is the highest-placed of the seven LIV Golfers who made the cut Augusta National, and he begins the fourth round just two off the lead
