Brooks Koepka had the guile to win nine times on the PGA Tour and the savvy to win five major tournaments and yet it was a chair and a microphone Tuesday that brought the nerves of an 8-foot putt at 18 on Sunday with the trophy on the line.
Mostly straight-faced and humble, Koepka admitted that he still is not sure how his presence in PGA Tour events after four years with LIV Golf will be received, but the text messages and in-person well wishes have been reassuring.
And yet there is the presence of those around the game he does not know as well that has Koepka on edge the most.
Tuesday’s press conference ahead of Koepka’s return event, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., brought apprehension.
Another moment of uncertainty arrives Thursday when Koepka plays in front of a gallery during the first round.
“Maybe I’m a little nervous about that as well just to see how, I guess, how the fans respond to it,” Koepka said, after his return was announced earlier this month. “I hope that they’re excited. I hope that they’re happy that I’m out here. You know, hopefully that goes, at least like the conversations I’ve had with players that they’re excited that I’m back and happy to see me play.”
Swinging his clubs, for what he hopes is four rounds on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean might be the easiest part of Koepka’s week.
Unlike his time at LIV, when he was on a reported $100 million contract that was in addition to any prize money he earned, his play from week-to-week on the PGA Tour will make a difference. Koepka will have to earn his way into the tour’s signature events like Pebble Beach and The Genesis in Los Angeles, both next month.
For now, he is committed to playing this week and next week at the WM Phoenix Open. On Tuesday, he added the Feb. 26-March 1 Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to his schedule.
“That’s the fun part, I love the grind, I’ve always enjoyed it,” said Koepka, who has a goal of winning at least one tournament this year. “I guess it’s a fresh start for me, which is cool. It’s just another chapter I guess in my book. I’m excited for that.
“I feel like my game’s in pretty good shape, and I want to see where it’s at. Obviously, this week is a little bit different. But yeah, I would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again. I’m super excited.”
Asked multiple times what inspired his move back to the PGA Tour now, with another year left on his LIV deal, Koepka, 35, said it was family related, without going into specifics.
He did say the impetus for a return started in September, around the time of the Ryder Cup. On Oct. 6, Koepka’s wife, Jenna Sims, revealed on social media she had a miscarriage.
“Circumstances kind of changed in my family a little bit,” Koepka said. “Then that’s when I guess things started to change and evolve and just started to have those conversations of what’s best for my family. So we took it from there. … (LIV) understood the situation that I was in.”
Koepka said his first call went to Tiger Woods about starting the process to play on the PGA Tour again. The next call went to commissioner Jay Monahan.
“I felt like Tiger was somebody that I’ve relied on in the past for questions and answers and how to deal with things and I felt like that was maybe the most comfortable call for me,” Koepka said.
The PGA Tour came up with a Returning Members Program that was revealed earlier this month and said that former tour members who have won a major tournament or The Players Championship since 2022 can return under further parameters.
It left Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith as the only players who could immediately return by a Feb. 2 deadline. DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith eventually reinforced their commitment to LIV.
Koepka has no regrets about the path he chose and said he has grown as a person following the birth of his son Crew, who will turn 3 in July.
His family will be in attendance in the San Diego area this week and again in the Phoenix area next week. Seeing consecutive tournaments while he was a member of LIV Golf would have been challenging for his family.
“I think as everybody in this room goes through phases in life and that’s kind of the phase I’m in now, is trying to make sure I set a good example for (Crew) and do what’s best for my family,” Koepka said.
On the course, he has inspiration from another competitor, who is also a new father.
“I know sometimes when your mind’s free, I think you look at Scottie (Scheffler) right now, sometimes it’s easier to go play golf and play your best,” Koepka said.
–Field Level Media
