DP World Tour opens the door for LIV players’ return, family joy in Oban, spotting Fox’s errors, and Fleetwood’s new attire. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with dignity. A T56 finish at Justin Rose’s victory in the Farmers Insurance Open was not a masterpiece, but in this case, the journey was the reward. Koepka started with a one-over-par 73, played a 68 in round two to make the cut, and finished the weekend at Torrey Pines with rounds of 73 and 70. Mission accomplished. By Friday, after moving into the weekend, the five-time major champion spoke of falling in love with the game again. That was what LIV was missing for him: competition, the tough struggle. Fighting for a three-meter putt even when 20 shots behind the leader. Every shot counts, especially when a hundred or more players share the same goal.
However, elsewhere, knives are still out regarding Koepka’s comeback, which some see as too easy and smooth. Not only Wyndham Clark. In a conversation with Golf Digest Japan before the Farmers, Hideki Matsuyama also spoke unusually openly. Considering his usual polite reserve, one might say: the 2021 Masters champion is furious.