Former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka marked his long-awaited PGA Tour return by taking pictures a one-over 73 within the first spherical of the Farmers Insurance coverage Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday.
4 years after defecting to the divisive Saudi-backed LIV Golf, the 35-year-old American not too long ago jumped again over the fence, with this week’s event in California marking his first PGA Tour occasion outdoors of the majors since 2022, ending a 1404-day drought.
With a birdie on the final gap, the five-time main winner completed the opening spherical in tied-102nd.
He confirmed indicators of rust however basked in a heat welcome on his return, cheered on by a supportive crowd, with one spectator yelling: “Welcome again Brooks!”
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MATCH CENTRE: Farmers Insurance coverage Open dwell scores
“I might have appreciated to have pushed the ball slightly higher,” Brooks stated throughout his post-round chat with the host broadcaster.
“I felt like I used to be within the tough all day.
“General I’m happy. I haven’t performed a aggressive spherical shortly, however the recreation feels there.”
Taking part in the more durable of two programs in use over the primary two rounds, Koepka discovered a fairway bunker on the way in which to a bogey on the fourth and dropped one other shot on the thirteenth.
He made his lone birdie of the day on the par-five 18th, the place his second shot went by means of the inexperienced however he chipped to eight ft and made the putt.
Requested if there was something he skilled on Thursday that he missed throughout his LIV absence, he responded: “There was quite a bit.
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Brooks breaks silence on LIV break up | 24:06
“I missed the blokes … it was thrilling.”
Koepka’s transfer again to the PGA Tour, which had banned gamers that jumped to LIV, comes beneath a brand new returning member program that features limitations on eligibility for some high occasions, and a five-year forfeiture of rights to take part within the PGA’s participant fairness program.
Pressed on why he felt nervous forward of Thursday’s motion, Brooks declared: “Simply because I care. I’ve fallen again in love with the sport.”
Elsewhere, Australian duo Karl Vilips and Jason Day acquired their weekend off to a promising begin by every scoring a five-under 67, sitting in tied-14th, with the previous notching three birdies throughout the ultimate 4 holes.
Compatriots Cam Davis and Adam Scott shot a commendable three-under 69 and four-under 68 respectively.
Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, conjured a bogey-free 10-under par 62 to seize the first-round lead at Torrey Pines. He torched the North Course with 10 birdies, simply lacking an eleventh at his ultimate gap, the par-five ninth, that might have given him the course report.
“It’s humorous how one can stroll off pissed off for positive,” stated Rose, who stated he second-guessed himself on the tough birdie putt.
“However, pay attention, I made my share on the market at present. My course of was implausible. I really feel like I managed my recreation actually, very well at present.
“I didn’t really feel like I performed excellent golf so it’s a superb reminder that you simply don’t all the time should play excellent golf nevertheless it was ok,” added Rose, who was one stroke in entrance of American Justin Decrease.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama picked up 5 strokes in his final 5 holes with an eagle and three birdies to seize a share of third on eight-under 64, tied with American Max Greyserman.
Eire’s Seamus Energy had the spherical of the day on the South Course, carding a seven-under 65 to share fifth place alongside Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and American Maverick McNealy.