Relationship from Brooks Koepka’s return, difficult LPGA start

Sign up every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss the LPGA’s rocky start, Brooks Koepka’s comeback and Justin Rose’s dominant victory.

The LPGA Tour opened its 2026 season with the Tournament of Champions at an uncharacteristically cold Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Fla., and Nelly Korda was declared the winner after the event was reduced to 54 holes (eight players completed their third rounds on Sunday as weather delayed the third round as well). The LPGA told reporters on the spot that the weather (temperatures in the low 30s, plus wind) did not create an “optimal competitive environment for the pros,” although the celebrities in the pro-am event still played nine holes on Sunday. One of them, Annika Sorenstam, called the course “very playable.” Any problems with cutting this down to 54 holes?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I feel sympathy for the LPGA because this is one of those “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situations. But I think that at any time things are CLOSED to play, tournaments must select 72-hole events. The mojo of an event has been completely altered, if not destroyed, by the decision to cut 25 percent of it, and I’m not sure the conditions in Orlando justify the radical change.

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I can’t see how this was the best option. You know what’s cool about golf? The fact that it is never an “optimal environment”. It was incredible to watch Nelly Korda climb the leaderboard on Saturday – in part because she played so well in less-than-optimal conditions. It would have been a huge win for the league to feature Korda braving the elements (and the rest of the field) on Sunday or Monday if necessary; instead, we’re left in awkward limbo with the league handing its biggest star what should have been an incredible win.

Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): It really looks like this was an incredible own goal on the part of the LPGA. Not just because they chose not to have a cold day on Sunday or play in slightly warmer but still chilly temperatures on Monday. But they could have moved up on Friday and Saturday and grouped players together instead of letting players play in similar conditions – Nelly’s Saturday round was great, but she also got way ahead of the leaders and only got the really bad stuff on the last two holes. With the LPGA not back-to-back until February 19th, I find it hard to believe they couldn’t find a way to slot in another 18 holes and showcase their top draw snapping their winless drought in impressive fashion. It would have been a huge win for the LPGA for Nelly to win like this in Week 1. Instead, we got “optimal competitive environment” and Annika wondering why they weren’t playing. Strange things.

Six-time LPGA Tour major Danielle Kang commented on social media that shortening rounds to 54 holes due to inclement weather appears to be the LPGA’s first option, while on the PGA Tour it appears to be the last resort. Do you think this has any validity? And why?

Colgan: It sure does smelt so it is, but by my accounting, Sunday was only the third time since 2022 that the LPGA has been shortened from 72 to 54 holes. The PGA Tour has done it once in the same stretch (Windham Clark’s Pebble Beach win in ’24). Yes, statistically that makes the LPGA three times more likely to cut an event short, but it’s hardly an epidemic.

Dethier: Look, I know it’s not their first option. I know they want the best for the league. I am excited about the trajectory of the LPGA. I just feel like they should have done everything they could to make it work, damn it.

Schrock: It’s not their first option, but reducing it to 54 holes the way they did, and with a rather bland explanation, is a bad look. They must feel like they might have found a way to get past the final round. There were no frost delays and the strong winds from Saturday are not expected to return. Monday will be cold but playable. Let’s see who can pull off a win. This is the fun part of golf!

LIV golfer turned PGA Tour player Brooks Koepka made his return to the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, making the media rounds and even jumping on the air before finishing T56. What did you think of his week and reception?

Colgan: I was surprised by how vulnerable he seemed in his conversations and his interactions on the course. For the vast majority of Koepka’s interactions with the public over the past five years, he has appeared somewhere between sullen and combative. This week was quite the opposite. I think it will be a while before I am completely BUY the “changed man” narrative – but it’s something I’m monitoring.

Dethier: I’m careful not to overdo anything Brooks. However, he was hailed as a conquering hero. He seemed humble and grateful and did extensive press before the tournament and then after each round, even sitting down for the CBS broadcast on Saturday and Sunday. Also, his golf swing looked great. Tee on the green he was good enough to fight. He was terrible with the shooter, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Schrock: I agree with James and Dylan that we should tread carefully when psychoanalyzing Brooks. We’ll see if the Koepka who seemed genuinely happy and grateful to be back and said he’s “grown up” is really the Koepka who’s back from LIV. But my biggest thing was that a guy who couldn’t be bothered by the regular events of the PGA Tour really seemed to enjoy his return, enjoyed the moments with his family and enjoyed the opportunity to be the first guy back across the bridge. It was nice to see him. His placement was terrifying. Hopefully he can find his way into contention soon.

Speaking of LIV leavers, Patrick Reed announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving LIV and will qualify to rejoin the PGA Tour in the fall of 2026. Bigger news for the tour, or worse for LIV Golf?

Colgan: Too bad for LIV, only because name value is the currency of the sport, and Reed’s departure removes a more recognizable name from LIV’s fields.

Dethier: Worse for LIV. A quote Reed gave to ESPN explains why: “After I won (at the DP World Tour last week), I realized how much I missed dogfighting; that’s who I am,” he said. The implication there is quite clear. For Reed, established golf tournaments offer something that LIV did not. His decision to return is a hard narrative to dispute.

Schrock: Worse for LIV. They have now lost two of the six names they have that are actually registered. LIV was built on buying names and two of them are now gone. Combined with reports that PIF is tightening its belt and that’s two blows to LIV in a row.

LIV Golf begins its season this coming week in Saudi Arabia, albeit without Koepka, who accepted the PGA Tour’s offer to return through the newly created Affiliate Program. The application window ends on February 2nd, and at this point it seems unlikely that the only other eligible players (Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith) will return. Given that Koepka may be the only one returning, was new CEO Brian Rolapp’s program a success?

Colgan: Eh, it wouldn’t have been a failure if NOBODY joined the tour. The biggest talking point in the last three years has been getting the best players back together. The Tour has now very clearly defined what that path looks like. Add two former major winners (including one willing to serve an eight-month suspension)? That’s just a bonus.

Dethier: Koepka’s decision to return is a massive win for the Tour. Reed’s decision to return is, too. These guys are basically paying to play the PGA Tour; this is a narrative victory. Rolapp deserves a lot of credit, but so do those around him; this is a reinvigorated tour that thinks bigger and better and in this case, it really shows.

Schrock: There’s no other way to put it than as a massive win for the PGA Tour. They brought in two big names, who are both huge champions and generate excitement, and have both agreed to penalties – in Reed’s case an eight-month suspension – to return. Untethered to the past, Rolapp has freed the Tour to do what previously seemed impossible under the previous leadership. Koepka’s response and coverage of the return showed just how big this win was for the PGA Tour. For Rid to come back and do this after an eight-month exile is ice.

Justin Rose won the Farmers on Sunday, cruising to a TK-shot victory at Torrey Pines for his 13th career PGA Tour victory. At 45 — and with an Olympic gold and US Open title under his belt — does Rose get enough credit for being one of the game’s most consistent performers? How are you still doing?

Colgan: When Rose faded at the 2024 Open, I remember wondering if the “Indian Summer” chapter of his career was over. I was impressed by his performance then, and I am even more impressed today. Rose is one of golf’s most impressive strategic thinkers and good guys of all time – he deserves the love he’s getting.

Dethier: Rose just keeps writing new chapters and my kindness was especially impressive. Rose is destroying the discs; he’s several miles per hour off the ball last season, looking and playing like a younger guy. He led wire to wire. Break Tiger Woods’ Torrey Pines scoring record. Won by seven. Looked very much in control literally the whole tournament. Now he is up to number 3 in the world, which is unimaginable. Inspirational game from an inspiring player.

Schrock: It’s probably the best story we have in professional golf right now. There is nothing better than the older son who refuses to give My Father what He wants to take. The fact that he’s probably an even better player now than he was when he was No. 1 of the World, speaks of his talent, desire and dedication to his craft and his body. At the Open, he said the Masters loss to Rory wasn’t what you’d think because it told him he can still bring it on the biggest stages against the best players in the world. It didn’t look like a guy whose Indian Summer was coming to an end and now he’s won twice in his last six starts and continues to be a Ryder Cup killer. Top of the cap.