DP World Tour opens the door for LIV players’ return, family joy for Oban’s MacIntyre, Fox’s error-filled LIV graphic, and Fleetwood’s new look. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with respectability. Finishing T56 at Justin Rose’s win at the Farmers Insurance Open was not a stellar achievement, but in this case, the journey was the goal. Koepka started with a one-over-par 73, played a 68 in round two to make the cut, and wrapped up the weekend at Torrey Pines with rounds of 73 and 70. Mission accomplished. Already on Friday, after making the weekend, the five-time major winner spoke about falling in love with the game anew. What he missed in LIV was competition – the tough battle, fighting for every three-meter putt even when trailing by 20 shots. Every stroke counts, especially when hundreds of players share the same goal.
Elsewhere, Koepka’s comeback still draws criticism for seeming too easy and smooth. Not only from Wyndham Clark. In a conversation with Golf Digest Japan before the Farmers, Hideki Matsuyama spoke unusually openly. Given his normally polite restraint, one could say the 2021 Masters champion is furious.