DP World Tour opens path back for LIV players, family joy in Oban, errors in Fox graphic, and Fleetwood’s new look. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has survived 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 standout performance, the journey itself was the goal for the five-time major champion. Koepka opened with a one-over-par 73, made the cut with a 68 in the second round, and completed the weekend at Torrey Pines with rounds of 73 and 70. Mission accomplished. By Friday, after making the weekend cut, Koepka spoke about falling in love with the game again, something he missed during his time on LIV Golf: the competition, the gritty battle, fighting for every three-meter putt even when lagging far behind the leaders. “I’m glad to be out there grinding again,” said Koepka.
However, not everyone is pleased with Koepka’s comeback, which some perceive as too easy or smooth. Not only Wyndham Clark but also Hideki Matsuyama expressed unusually frank opinions ahead of the Farmers in an interview with Golf Digest Japan. Considering Matsuyama’s normally polite restraint, one could say the 2021 Masters champion was furious.
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Matsuyama said he was shocked to hear about the LIV star’s return. He had rejected a nine-figure offer from the rival circuit in 2022, also due to the implications for his PGA Tour future. “I thought: How come he can just come back like that? What happened to the idea that players joining LIV cannot participate on the PGA Tour for a year? 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 terminate his LIV contract.\”
Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama also said he was unaware of such a rule and wondered why the PGA Tour had not explained the situation to players beforehand. “But we are just supposed to play and have nothing else to say.” Notably, Matsuyama finished well ahead of Koepka, placing eleventh at La Jolla cliffs. Perhaps that eased his frustration?
DP World Tour: Ending Penalties for LIV Players?
The DP World Tour is reforming its sanctions for defecting members. Starting in the 2026 season, no penalties will apply if players participate in non-sanctioned tours like the LIV Golf League, according to Flushing It. However, professionals like Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm, and Tyrrell Hatton, who have appealed their fines accumulated until 2025, still have to pay them—in Rahm’s case, over three million dollars. This change opens the door for more LIV players to compete in European circuit tournaments, provided they remain