DP World Tour paves the way back for LIV players, family joy in Oban, Fox’s flawed graphic, and Fleetwood’s new look. The Back Nine.
Brooks Koepka has completed his first week back on the PGA Tour with dignity. Finishing tied 56th at Justin Rose’s victory at the Farmer Insurance Open was not a stellar performance, but in this case, the journey was the goal. Koepka started with a one-over-par 73, played a 68 in the second round to make the cut, and completed the weekend at Torrey Pines with rounds of 73 and 70. Mission accomplished. Shortly after making the weekend cut on Friday, the five-time major champion mentioned he had fallen in love with the game again. This was what he missed while at LIV: the competition, the tough battles, the fight even for a three-meter putt despite being 20 strokes behind the lead. Every stroke counts, especially when hundreds of players share the same goal.
However, Koepka’s comeback is still stirring controversy, seen by some as too easy or too smooth. Not just Wyndham Clark has voiced this sentiment. In an interview with Golf Digest Japan before the Farmers, Hideki Matsuyama spoke unusually openly. Considering his normally polite and reserved demeanor, one could say the 2021 Masters champion is furious.