DP World Tour opens path back for LIV players, family joy in Oban, spotting errors in Fox graphics, and Fleetwood’s new look. The Back Nine.
Survived: Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with dignity. A T56 finish at Justin Rose’s victory in the Farmer Insurance Open wasn’t a stellar achievement, 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 finished the weekend at Torrey Pines with rounds of 73 and 70. Mission accomplished. Already on Friday, after making the weekend cut, the five-time major champion spoke about falling in love with the game again. That’s what he missed at LIV: the competition and the tough battles. Fighting for a three-meter putt even when 20 shots behind the leader. Every shot counts, especially when hundreds of players share the same goal. \”I’m glad to be out there grinding again,\” said Koepka.
Elsewhere, sharp criticism still surrounds Koepka’s comeback, which some consider too easy and smooth, including from Wyndham Clark. In a conversation with Golf Digest Japan before the Farmers, Hideki Matsuyama spoke unusually candidly. Given his typical polite demeanor, one might say the 2021 Masters champion is furious.
\”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
Matsuyama said he was shocked when he learned about the LIV star’s return, having rejected a nine-figure offer from the rival circuit in 2022, partly due to the consequences for his future on the PGA Tour. \”I thought: How can he just come back like that? What happened to the idea that players who joined LIV must miss a year on the PGA Tour? And now there’s a Returning Member Program?\”
The Japanese player added he was unaware of such a rule: \”I wonder why the PGA Tour didn’t explain the situation to players beforehand. But we are just supposed to play and not say anything else.\” Incidentally, Matsuyama finished eleventh at La Jolla, well ahead of Koepka. Whether that soothed his anger is uncertain.
DP World Tour to Remove Penalties for LIV Players?
About-face: The DP World Tour is reforming sanctions against renegade members. From the 2026 season, no penalties will be imposed when players participate in unsanctioned tours like the LIV Golf League. According to Flushing It, players like Patrick Reed