DP World Tour paves way for LIV players’ return, family joy in Oban, spotting errors in Fox’s LIV graphic and Fleetwood’s new outfit highlights The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with dignity. Finishing T56 at Justin Rose’s Farmers Insurance Open was not a spectacular feat, but in this case, the journey was the goal. Koepka started with a one-over-par 73, broke the cut with a 68 in round two, and completed the weekend at Torrey Pines with rounds of 73 and 70. Mission accomplished. Already on Friday, after making the cut, the five-time major champion spoke of falling in love with the game again—something he missed during his time on LIV: the competition, the tough battle, fighting for every putt even when trailing by 20 strokes. Every shot counts, especially when more than a hundred players share the same goal.
Meanwhile, Koepka’s comeback continues to ignite controversy, with some, including Wyndham Clark, deeming it too smooth. In an unusual outburst before the Farmers Open, Hideki Matsuyama also voiced his discontent in an interview with Golf Digest Japan. Known for his polite demeanor, the 2021 Masters champion appeared genuinely furious.
Matsuyama said he was shocked to hear of the LIV star’s return. The Japanese player, who rejected a nine-figure offer from the rival circuit in 2022 partly due to implications for his PGA Tour future, questioned the sudden termination of an earlier idea that players joining LIV must sit out the PGA Tour for one year. \”I thought: How is it possible he can come back just like that? What happened to the idea that players must miss one year on the PGA Tour after joining LIV? And now there’s 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 cancel his LIV contract.\”
Hideki Matsuyama