DP World Tour paves the way back for LIV players, family joy in Oban, Fox’s error-filled graphic, and Fleetwood’s new outfits. The Back Nine.
Survived: Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with dignity. Finishing T56 at Justin Rose’s win at the Farmer Insurance Open was no masterpiece, but in this case, the journey was the goal. Koepka started with a one-over-par 73, made the cut with a 68 in round two, and managed the weekend with rounds of 73 and 70 at Torrey Pines. Mission accomplished. Already on Friday after making the weekend, the five-time major winner spoke of falling in love with the game again. That was what was missing for him at LIV: competition. The tough battle. Fighting for a three-meter putt even when 20 shots behind the leader. But every stroke counts, especially when a hundred or more players share the same goal.
Elsewhere, knives are still being sharpened over Koepka’s comeback, which some see as too easy and smooth. Not only Wyndham Clark. In a talk with Golf Digest Japan before the Farmers, Hideki Matsuyama also expressed himself unusually openly. Considering his normally polite attitude, one could say: the 2021 Masters champion is furious.
He was literally shocked when he heard about the LIV star’s return, Matsuyama, who rejected a nine-figure offer from the rival circuit in 2022, complained. Among other things, because of the consequences for his future on the PGA Tour. \”I thought: What? He can just come back like that? What happened to the idea that players who joined LIV cannot participate in the PGA Tour for a year? And now there is a Returning Member Program?\”
\”I have nothing against Koepka. I even find it quite impressive that Brooks had the courage to make this decision and terminate his LIV contract.\”
Hideki Matsuyama
He said he was unaware of such a rule, adding: \”I wonder why the PGA Tour didn’t explain the situation to players beforehand? But we are supposed to just play and say nothing else.\” By the way, Matsuyama finished 11th at La Jolla, well ahead of Koepka. Did that calm him down?