SAN DIEGO – Brooks Koepka experienced nervousness. After 14 weeks of absence from the competitive circuit, his return to the golf course generated expectations. Despite this, when he stood on the first tee of the south course of Torrey Pines on Thursday, concern about his game was not his main concern.
After his stage of more than three years in LIV Golf, which ended last month, Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour has been well received by both the organization and his colleagues.
However, Koepka admitted to feeling some uncertainty about the public’s reaction, the most important element of golf.
“I was worried about my image, what people thought or what the fans thought,” Koepka stated after a round of 73 strokes, one over par. “I care what everyone thinks here… I just wanted a warm welcome, like everyone, nobody wants to feel excluded, they just want to be loved. I think it’s something inherent in being human.”
Brooks KoepkaFans dispelled Koepka’s concerns on almost every hole, with shouts of “Welcome back!” and “So good to have you back!”. The five-time major winner drew the largest crowd of the day, exchanged greetings and high-fives as he walked the course, and took time to sign autographs after his round.
“From the first tee, everything was great. It calmed me down a bit,” Koepka commented. “It made me feel good to be here.”
This week, Koepka has shown a more calm and reflective side. According to his own words, the time away from professional golf and the opportunity to see his son grow and start practicing this sport have given him a new perspective, which he is enjoying.
“I think I’ve fallen in love with the game again,” Koepka stated. “It’s not that you fall out of love, but I think you can deepen that love. Fourteen weeks is a long time to think, to reflect. If you do that for a while, sitting on the couch, you can deepen what you feel. I’m excited.”
Brooks KoepkaBrooks Koepka dijo que estaba “agradecido” de estar de vuelta jugando en el PGA Tour el jueves y comentó que la cálida recepción de los aficionados en Torrey Pines alivió cualquier nerviosismo que tenía al ingresar al Farmers Insurance Open.Despite not achieving a birdie until the 18th hole, Koepka enjoyed the opportunity to be in this situation. He revealed that, just over a month ago, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to return to the PGA Tour so soon after leaving LIV.
“When I contacted [the tour], I knew there was a possibility of being out for a while,” he explained. “If there’s a penalty to pay to be here and come back, I was going to do whatever the tour needed. It was very simple. I was willing to do whatever they wanted.”
Brooks KoepkaKoepka battled on the demanding South Course on Thursday and, although he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his driving game (he only hit 6 of 14 fairways), he was pleased with his performance and aware that he will need time to regain his best form.
“Being here and seeing how quickly everything has come together has left me amazed,” Koepka said. “I’m grateful to be here.”
