Paul Casey joins LIV, plans to play at next event in New Jersey

Another one of the world's top golfers is jumping ship from the PGA TOUR to the LIV Invitational Series.

Paul Casey, who's ranked No. 26 in the OWGR, confirmed he's joining the Saudi-backed rival league and intends to play in its next event in Bedminster, New Jersey, at the end of July. He also plans to take part in The Open Championship two weeks earlier.

A back injury that's been hindering Casey forced him to miss this year's editions of The Masters, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open. He hasn't played in a tournament since Match Play Championship in March.

The Englishman, who'll turn 45 on July 21, refused to play in the original Saudi International tourney in 2019. The former UNICEF ambassador said he "would be a hypocrite" if he played in Saudia Arabia. Casey teed off in the event two years later, finishing tied for 12th place.

Of the world's top 100 players, 22 have now signed up for LIV.

Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed are the most notable names to make the switch. Koepka and DeChambeau initially came out strongly in defense of the PGA TOUR before changing their minds ahead of the new league's second event in Portland this week. Johnson also originally pledged his loyalty to the TOUR before crossing the aisle for LIV's inaugural tournament in London in June.