He for sure looked like Major Brooks. World beater. Immune to anxiety that sways, smiles, moans, knocks and beats. Thanos in polo.
But the person sitting on the dais Tuesday morning did not sound much like Brooks Koepka.
that the boy said he was nervous, which was a term the boy knew everyone would probably have to look up.
“I think it feels a little different,” he said.
“I’m definitely a little more nervous this week just coming back.”
On Tuesday, however, that was perhaps to be expected. it it Was returning to the PGA Tour, where it had been before it closed for LIV in 2022. Two days before Christmas, Koepka and that circuit parted ways, and a dozen days later, Koepka and the PGA Tour agreed to a reinstatement deal.
But none of this was playing.
How do you want it? that go? Would there be nerves there? The birds? Bogeys? On Thursday, shortly after 9:30 local time, we began to find out. That’s when Koepka birdied the first hole on Torrey Pines’ South Course, his first shot in the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Below is how the rest of the round went for the four-time major winner.
So what did Koepka look like?
He shot one over 73, and as you would suspect with a one over 73, there were some good ones, and there were some not so good ones.
The good? Round one found its way free, and round two landed at 10 feet. On the 5th, from the rough left of the green, he chipped to an inch. On the 10th, after coming up short on his second shot on the par-4, he got up to 6 feet and made par. On 18, after hitting the green with his second shot and with the green sloping toward the water beyond the hole, he holed out to 7 feet on his way to making his only birdie of the round.
But there were hiccups. He jumped to 4 after a tee shot into a fairway bunker and a three-putt. He took four shots from 43 yards on the par-5 13th and made bogey. From the bogey, he hit just six of 14 fairways and averaged two strokes when hitting a green in regulation.
The round was fair. A second round on the tougher South course didn’t hurt his chances, but he’ll need a lower number on Friday on the North course to get through the weekend. It should also be noted that Thursday’s round was his first since October 4 last year.
Any interesting moments?
moment below it was good.
There was also an interesting interaction in the first group. There, Koepka was greeted by Tony Perez, the event’s longtime first-time announcer — and father of Pat Perez, who is also looking to return to the PGA Tour after a stint at LIV Golf.
What did the TV analysts say about Koepka?
They spoke positively.
Said Golf Channel’s Notah Begay: “I think he found a little bit of rhythm at the end of the round, some nice shots on 17 and 18, great drive on 16. Overall, I think he should be pretty pleased.”
Said Golf Channel’s Curt Byrum: “I think he wasn’t that far today. I feel like you make a couple of shots early on that front nine — he missed two short shots for birdie on the front side. I feel like he’s swinging pretty well in that, not that far kind of thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes out and is good enough tomorrow and good enough up north to make the cut. I play all four days.”
What did fans say about Koepka?
They were also positive, Koepka said. Afterwards, he also said he wasn’t sure what he was about to hear.
“I don’t like to think ahead at all or try to predict what was going to happen,” Koepka said, “but I wasn’t sure, which is kind of weird to be worried about, or I don’t really know.
“From the first set on, it was great. It actually calmed me down a bit. Like I said, it made me feel good just to be here. It was a good set with Max and Ludvig, I loved that. The whole day was great.”
Did he know the last time he cared what others thought to the degree he has this week?
“I don’t know, it’s hard,” he said.
“I’m the only one in the whole world going through this, so it’s very hard to explain. But I’m enjoying it, I really am.”
What did Koepka say next?
Koepka, speaking about his game, said he was happy with his golf swing and that his driver failed him. He also said, outside of the 18-year-old, he hasn’t made any shots.
Nerves, he said, played a role during the round. But why? After all, he’s been a pro for a while. He has won a lot.
“Just because I care,” Koepka said. “I think I fell in love with the game again. And honestly, watching my son play a little bit and wanting to see him watching me, or I think I want him to watch me play well and realize how much this game has given me and how much fun it is and how great it is to be here.”
Are you in love again? Had he fallen out of love with the game?
“It wasn’t that you got away from it, but I think you might fall deeper in love with it,” he said.
“I mean, I haven’t played competitively for like 14 weeks, so it’s a lot of time off, a lot of time to think, a lot of time to reflect. If you do it for a while sitting on the couch, you can get really deep into what you’re feeling. I’m just excited.”
On Tuesday, Koepka seemed to speak more calmly and reflectively than usual, and that continued on Thursday.
What did his scorecard look like?
Koepka played Torrey Pines’ South Course — the first two rounds are split between Torrey Pines’ North and South courses — and here’s what his scorecard looked like:
No. 1, 453-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 301 yards to right side of fairway, 148 yards to hole
Shot 2: 150 yards to the right side of the green, 10 feet, 4 inches to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 11 feet, 8 inches, 14 inches into the hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 2, 392-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 311 yards to fairway right, 83 yards to hole
Shot 2: 68 yards to the left side of the green, 43 feet, 1 inch to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 43 feet, 10 inches, 17 inches into the hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 3, 166-yard par-3 (par):
Shot 1: 160 yards to the right side of the green, 30 feet, 6 inches to the hole
Shot 2: Putt 34 feet, 2 inches, 3 feet, 5 inches into the hole
Shot 3: In the hole
No. 4, 491-yard par-4 (bogey):
Shot 1: 290 yards to a right bunker, 204 yards to the hole
Shot 2: 189 yards to the right side of the green, 52 feet, 1 inch to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 42 feet, 9 inches, 9 feet, 4 inches on the hole
Shot 4: Putt 11 feet, 11 inches, 2 feet, 2 inches into the hole
Shot 5: In the hole
No. 5, 461-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 307 yards to left bunker, 162 yards to hole
Shot 2: 164 yards to rough left, 23 feet, 1 inch to hole
3rd shot: 22 feet, 11 inches to right side of green, 1 inch to hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 6, 541-yard par-5 (par):
Shot 1: 308 yards to the left side of the fairway, 239 yards to the hole
Shot 2: 243 yards to a left bunker, 52 feet, 2 inches to the hole
Shot 3: 69 feet, 9 inches to fairway right, 17 feet, 8 inches to hole
Shot 4: 20 feet, 1 inch to right side of green, 2 feet, 1 inch to hole
Shot 5: In the hole
No. 7, 461-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 299 yards to the right side of the fairway, 159 yards to the hole
Shot 2: 155 yards to the right side of the green, 27 feet, 1 inch to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 27 feet, 9 inches, 10 inches into the hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 8, 180 yard par-3 (par):
Shot 1: 181 yards to the right side of the green, 22 feet, 7 inches to the hole
Shot 2: Putt 21 feet, 4 inches, 16 inches into the hole
Shot 3: In the hole
No. 9, 615-yard par-5 (par):
Shot 1: 295 yards to fairway right, 315 yards to hole
Shot 2: 162 yards to right side of fairway, 154 yards to hole
Shot 3: 157 yards to the right side of the green, 9 feet, 6 inches to the hole
Shot 4: Putt 11 feet, 4 inches, 17 inches into the hole
Shot 5: In the hole
Before nine: 1-over 37
No. 10, 460-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 300 yards to fairway right, 164 yards to hole
Shot 2: 131 yards to fairway right, 34 yards to hole
Shot 3: 94 feet, 10 inches to left side of green, 6 feet, 10 inches to hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 11, 231-yard par-3 (par):
Shot 1: 226 yards to the right side of the green, 28 feet, 6 inches to the hole
Shot 2: Putt 31 feet, 8 inches, 2 feet, 10 inches to the hole
Shot 3: In the hole
No. 12, 492-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 312 yards to the left side of the fairway, 181 yards to the hole
Shot 2: 184 yards to the right side of the green, 17 feet, 7 inches to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 19 feet, 8 inches, 21 inches on the hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 13, 600-yard par-5 (bogey):
Shot 1: 315 yards to left fairway, 275 yards to hole
Shot 2: 236 yards to the left side of the fairway, 43 yards to the hole
Shot 3: 55 yards left fairway, 36 feet, 5 inches to the hole
Shot 4: 27 feet, 0 inches to left side of green, 9 feet, 5 inches to hole
Shot 5: Putt 10 feet, 10 inches, 18 inches into the hole
Shot 6: In the hole
No. 14, 440-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 305 yards to fairway right, 144 yards to hole
Shot 2: 117 yards to the right side of the fairway, 88 feet, 2 inches to the hole
3rd shot: 93 feet, 10 inches to right side of green, 5 feet, 6 inches to hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 15, 477-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 313 yards to the left side of the run, 168 yards to the hole
Shot 2: 168 yds to the left side of the green, 16 feet 0 inches to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 18 feet, 7 inches, 2 feet, 4 inches into the hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 16, 227-yard par-3 (par):
Shot 1: 222 yards to the left side of the green, 22 feet, 4 inches to the hole
Shot 2: Putt 25 feet, 5 inches, 2 feet, 8 inches into the hole
Shot 3: In the hole
No. 17, 443-yard par-4 (par):
Shot 1: 311 yards to right side of fairway, 132 yards to hole
Shot 2: 124 yards to the right side of the green, 26 feet, 6 inches to the hole
Shot 3: Putt 28 feet, 3 inches, 21 inches to the hole
Shot 4: In the hole
No. 18, 570 yard par-5 (birdie):
Shot 1: 298 yards to the left side of the fairway, 263 yards to the hole
Shot 2: 285 yards to fairway right, 69 feet, 5 inches to hole
3rd shot: 61 feet, 9 inches left side of green, 7 feet, 10 inches to hole
Shot 4: In the hole
Back nine: even with 36
Total: 1 over 73
What about Koepka’s other stats?
Below is a look at them:
Driving Accuracy: 42.86 percent (6/14)
Drive distance: 292.40 yards
Longest drive: 315.00 yards
Greens in regulation: 72.22 percent (13/18)
Fighting: 80.00 percent (4/5)
Putts to Greens in Regulation: 2.00
Legs of legs made: 46 feet, 11 inches
When does Koepka play on Friday?
Koepka and playing partners Aberg and Homa tee off at 1:38 p.m. ET Friday on the Torrey Pines North Course.
What does Friday’s TV coverage look like?
Television coverage begins at noon on ESPN, before switching to the Golf Channel at 3 p.m.
Did Koepka have any thoughts on Patrick Reed?
He did. On Wednesday, Reed also said he was leaving LIV, and the PGA Tour said he would be eligible to play in tour events beginning Aug. 25.
Koepka said his putting coach, Jeff Pierce, told him the news while Koepka was playing a practice round on Wednesday.
“He just stopped in the street and asked me if I saw him,” Koepka said. “I’m like no, I’m here on the golf course, my phone is in my bag, so I didn’t see anything.
“Yeah, it’s wild. Whatever Patrick wants to do and be the best golfer he can be, the best for his family, I’m in full support of that. I think everybody’s different, they have to make decisions about what’s best for their family. If that’s what he’s doing, then I’m 100 percent behind him, whatever he has to do.”
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