DP World Tour clears the way for LIV players’ return, family joy for Oban’s MacIntyre, Fox’s graphics errors, and Fleetwood’s new look. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with dignity, finishing T56 at Justin Rose’s victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. While not a sensational performance, the journey itself was the goal. Koepka started with a 73 (+1), made the cut with a 68, and closed the weekend with rounds of 73 and 70 at Torrey Pines. Mission accomplished. On Friday, after securing a weekend spot, the five-time major winner spoke of falling in love with the game again, what he missed most about LIV was the competition and the grind—even struggling with a three-meter putt despite being 20 shots behind the leader, knowing every stroke counts among hundreds chasing the same target. \”I’m glad to be grinding it out out there again,\” Koepka said.
Meanwhile, backlashes against Koepka’s comeback continue, seen by some as too smooth and easy, notably by Wyndham Clark. Hideki Matsuyama, usually reserved, spoke out unusually critically before the Farmers in an interview with Golf Digest Japan. The 2021 Masters champion was visibly upset.
\”I have nothing against Koepka. I actually find it quite impressive that Brooks had the courage to make this decision and terminate his LIV contract.\”
Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama was reportedly shocked to learn of Koepka’s return, recalling he declined a nine-figure offer from the rival circuit in 2022 partly due to consequences for his PGA Tour future. \”I thought: How can he just return like that? What happened to the idea that players who joined LIV can’t play on the PGA Tour for a year? Now there’s a Returning Member Program?\”
He further said he was unaware of such a rule and questioned why the PGA Tour did not clarify the situation to players beforehand, lamenting, \”We’re just supposed to play and have no say otherwise.\” Matsuyama eventually finished 11th near La Jolla, well ahead of Koepka. Did that ease his frustration?
DP World Tour Lifts Penalties for LIV Players
The DP World Tour has reversed its stance on sanctions for players competing on unsanctioned tours like the LIV Golf League from 2026 onward, as reported by Flushing It. Though players like Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm, and Tyrrell Hatton must still pay accumulated fines through 2025 (Rahm faces over $3 million), the change opens