LIV Golf player replacement named for suspended major champion at Greenbrier
LIV Golf has confirmed its replacement player for suspended Graeme McDowell at LIV Golf Greenbrier this week.
John Catlin will replace a 'suspended' Graeme McDowell at this week's LIV Golf Greenbrier.
Catlin, 33, has been acting as a replacement for an injured Charles Howell III on Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC for the past four tournaments on the breakaway Saudi league.
Howell III is now back in action, meaning Catlin was set to be on the sidelines this week.
But for this week Catlin will join Brooks Koepka's Smash GC and take the place of McDowell who has been suspended and fined for testing positive for a banned substance.
Catlin has won six times on the Asian Tour and three times on the DP World Tour.
Shock news emerged last week that McDowell, 45, had used a 'generic' Vicks nasal decongestant ahead of LIV Nashville after struggling to sleep.
The 2010 US Open champion said he did not realise it was on the list of prohibited substances.
McDowell revealed he did not think to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) because of the 'over the counter nature' of the medicine.
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In his statement, McDowell said he 'deeply' regretted the oversight and he fully accepted the sanctions imposed by the breakaway tour.
He also appeared to hit out at the PGA Tour by saying that LIV, 'Unlike other tours', enforces rules rigorously.
McDowell has also been fined $125,000.
The former European Ryder Cup hero will return to action at LIV Golf Chicago at Bolingbrook Golf Club from 13-15 September.
In 11 LIV Golf events so far this season, McDowell has notched just three top-10 finishes.
He is being replaced by Asian Tour International Series leader Catlin at LIV Golf Greenbrier.
Catlin has played in the last four LIV Golf events while on DeChambeau's team but this week he will join forces with Koepka's side.
Koepka's team also comprises Jason Kokrak and Talor Gooch.
Catlin has had mixed set of results so far on LIV Golf with a best result of T7 at LIV Golf Nashville in June.
He has amassed just over $1m in earnings on LIV Golf this season.
Jon Rahm is a warm tournament favourite this week having won his first LIV Golf title last month.
DeChambeau is the defending champion.
He shot a record round of 58 last year to win the tournament by six shots over Mito Pereira.
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