Justin Rose effortlessly carded a bogey-free 10-under par 62 at the Farmers' Insurance Open in Torrey Pines, immediately seizing the lead in round one. Brooks Koepka also teed off – showing a bit of rust, but was warmly welcomed back in his PGA Tour comeback.
The return of five-time major winner Koepka – who, as is well known, had switched to the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, shaking up the golf world considerably – was the number one topic of conversation before the start of the Farmers' Insurance Open. Everyone wanted to know how this transfer bombshell would feel.
Koepka, who hadn't played a non-major PGA Tour event since the 2022 WGC Match Play, posted a one-over par 73 on Torrey Pines' South Course. He himself admitted that the fans' reception helped him get a grip on his nerves on the first tee. It seems even a major winner was feeling some pressure there.
"It was just about my perception, about what people or what the fans thought," Koepka said. "It's easy when you're with the players and they talk to you, or you talk to them, or with the caddies or the people here. But with everyone else, I wasn't sure."
Ultimately, in his words, the fans were "awesome." "It was really cool to hear 'welcome back' on almost every hole." That truly hit home.
Koepka played the – for those in the know! – more challenging of the two courses used in the first two rounds. On his way to a bogey on the fourth hole, he found a fairway bunker and incurred another dropped shot on the 13th.
He notched his only birdie of the day on the par-five 18th. Although his second shot went over the green, he chipped the ball to eight feet and calmly drained the putt.
"I felt like it was pretty good," said Koepka, emphasizing that he hadn't played a competitive round in 14 weeks. "I struck the ball really well. Didn't hit enough fairways... and didn't make any putts besides the 18th. It's been a while since I've played competitive golf, so I like the way I'm playing, I just need to play my way back into it a bit."
Koepka's return to the PGA Tour – which had actually suspended players who switched to LIV – is happening under a new program for returning members. However, this also means restrictions on eligibility for some top events and relinquishing five years of rights to the PGA's Player Impact Program. That move certainly had its cost.
And speaking of cost: As part of his reintegration, Koepka is also making a charitable donation of $5 million. He said the speed at which the pieces of the puzzle fell into place "really blew him away." "I'm just grateful to be here and to have the chance to
