Brooks Koepka held a prolonged press convention this week forward of his gorgeous return to the PGA Tour for the Farmers Insurance coverage Open.
Nonetheless, it took simply 4 phrases the next day for him to make his most impactful assertion on his LIV Golf defection but.
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“We’re so BacK,” he wrote whereas posting an 18-second hype video forward of spherical 1, capitalising the B and Ok to signify his initials.
The clip swiftly went viral on Thursday (AEDT), with practically 500,000 views in its first 5 hours on-line.
Within the video, there are fast cuts of Koepka swinging the golf membership from a number of angles, whereas one in every of his solutions on the press convention, the place he speaks about beginning “one other chapter”, is proven.
All that involves the backtrack of Kanye West’s iconic 2007 hit Homecoming, during which Coldplay’s Chris Martin sings: “Now I’m coming residence once more, perhaps we are able to begin once more.”
As if it wasn’t clear sufficient already the place Koepka appears like he belongs, now there’s completely zero doubt.
His LIV Golf days are lengthy, lengthy gone.
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Nonetheless, how Koepka is obtained again on the PGA Tour by the colleagues he left 4 years in the past serves as the largest level of intrigue this week in San Diego, outdoors of how nicely he really performs.
Earlier feedback from the likes of Wyndham Clark, who earlier this month mentioned that Koepka had been allowed to “have his cake and eat it too”, steered a probably frosty reception lay forward.
That will nonetheless be the case among the many Tour’s rank-and-file, who’ve had many doorways on the PGA Tour shut to them as a response to the LIV Golf menace.
Identical to LIV Golf, the PGA Tour now rewards its greatest begins essentially the most, and extra frequently, somewhat than being a complete degree enjoying subject.
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However any animosity in the direction of Koepka at Torrey Pines has not been instantly evident, primarily based on the interactions and feedback which have been made publicly out there.
Essentially the most distinguished interplay seen this week includes Koepka assembly Billy Horschel on the driving vary.
Within the video, Horschel gives Koepka an enthusiastically heat welcome, dapping him up whereas showing to share a joke with him.
It’s value noting that Horschel made headlines on the top of the participant exodus to LIV by calling defectors — which included Koepka — “hypocrites”.
WHAT PLAYERS ARE SAYING
Different stars have additionally refused to sink the boot in in the direction of Koepka and as a substitute are revelling within the main increase for the PGA Tour, which may also welcome again 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed from late August — one 12 months on from his most up-to-date LIV Golf occasion.
Reed might want to serve that point earlier than with the ability to re-join the PGA Tour, whereas Koepka — being a significant winner since 2022 — is the benefactor of a fast-tracked course of that’s solely open to him, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm earlier than February 2.
Adam Scott, who’s a member of each the PGA Tour’s coverage board and Participant Advisory Council, mentioned that he was happy to see the pathways again to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf getting used.
“I believe it’s good issues for the tour, and doubtless perhaps extra constructive issues for the golf fan,” Scott, mentioned.
Talking in regards to the distinction of star energy between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, he added: “My private opinion is that’s a little bit bit harsh. However I perceive what they’re saying … and definitely with Brooks returning [and] Patrick may return quickly. They’re no joke.
“Brooks is an unbelievable participant and Patrick’s a significant champion and a feisty competitor. … So, hopefully the followers recognize that.
“I really feel like we’re simply coping with it for the primary time on this cycle, however, you already know, it’s exhausting having a crystal ball to look forward and understand how issues play out.”
Taking a firmer viewpoint, nonetheless, was this week’s defending champion Harris English.
Talking after studying of Reed’s imminent defection, English mentioned that the writing is now on the wall for LIV Golf.
“As you’re seeing, type of the dominoes are beginning to fall of perhaps these guys on the LIV tour should not that comfortable on the market and the grass just isn’t greener on the opposite facet,” English mentioned.
“They’re seeing the PGA Tour getting stronger and having extra success, and type of seeing that cash’s not the tip all, be all. Like that doesn’t fulfil them. It doesn’t fulfil me.
‘Like enjoying a online game…’ | 01:01
“They’re nonetheless opponents; they’re aggressive folks they usually love enjoying within the greatest occasions towards the very best gamers on the earth. For me, that’s out right here on the PGA Tour, and I believe they’re beginning to realise that, that that’s what fulfils them.”
Swedish gun Ludvig Aberg additionally mentioned he didn’t begrudge anybody trying to get again onto the PGA Tour.
He revealed that he had the chance to hitch LIV Golf, however in the end wasn’t excited by the proposal.
“I didn’t prefer it; it wasn’t something I needed to be part of,” he mentioned.
Aberg added: “Should you’re doing it the appropriate means and also you need to come again, I’ve no downside.”
However maybe essentially the most poetic of reactions in San Diego this week got here from final 12 months’s shock US Open champion, JJ Spaun.
His tackle the scenario steered that a number of the stars nonetheless on LIV Golf have made the incorrect transfer, and are doomed to a profession of obscurity.
“Golf at all times wins in the long run. I’m actually aware that a couple of folks can’t mess it up,” he mentioned.
“And in the event that they fiddle an excessive amount of, they’ll be caught out, and, you already know, vanish from the sport—like struck down by golf and eliminated.”