Brooks Koepka is the latest golfer to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf a week after complaining about 'black cloud' over the US Open

• Brooks Koepka is leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
• Koepka will make his debut with the new league at its Portland event next week.

Brooks Koepka is the latest big-name golfer to leave the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.

On Tuesday, multiple reports announced that the four-time major winner was set to sign on with the new league and will make his debut at LIV's Portland event next week.

Along with Koepka, several other big names, including Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, will be playing their first LIV event in Portland, helping to bolster what was a relatively weak field in its first event in London.

News of Koepka's decision to leave the PGA Tour comes just a week after his press conference ahead of the US Open, during which he scolded reporters who asked about a potential departure to LIV Golf.

"I'm here. I'm here at the U.S. Open," Koepka said. "I'm ready to play US Open, and I think it kind of sucks, too, you are all throwing this black cloud over the US Open. It's one of my favorite events. I don't know why you guys keep doing that."

Asked why he had decided to remain with the PGA Tour until that point, Koepka replied simply, "There's been no other option to this point, so where else are you going to go?"

—Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) June 14, 2022

This week, Koepka answered that question definitively.

Koepka's brother Chase had already played in the inaugural LIV event in London two weeks ago.

In addition to Koepka, Abraham Ancer, currently ranked 20th in the world, is reportedly set to head to LIV for next week's event.

While Koepka and Ancer represent the latest wins for LIV Golf, some players still staunchly deny any potential that they would make the jump to the new league.

On Tuesday morning, Collin Morikawa, ranked 4th in the world, put to bed rumors that he might be the next player to leave the PGA Tour.

—Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 21, 2022

Morikawa is an important young talent for the PGA Tour to hold on to. That said, LIV Golf gets stronger with every name they sign. Further, because the league's format restricting itself to just 48 players, they only need to convince a few more big names to start looking like a real sports product.

Given the money that LIV Golf is throwing around, both upfront and up for grabs in tournaments, it feels like a breaking point will inevitably come. Once the new league solidifies with a roster of 48 players, we could be looking at a split of talent among the top-tier of golf that lasts for years.