SAN DIEGO — Torrey Pines looked plenty familiar to Brooks Koepka. The PGA Tour? Not so much.
Koepka is back on tour this week at the Farmers Insurance Open, making him the first LIV Golf defector allowed to return to PGA Tour competition. While reacquainting himself with the South Course’s back nine, he found himself asking about the qualifying paths for the $20 million signature events.
“Man, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” he said, not even considering the numerous schedule changes still in development.
This marks Koepka’s first regular PGA Tour event since losing to Dustin Johnson in the 2022 Match Play quarterfinals, though he’s competed in majors during his LIV tenure.
“I guess it’s a fresh start for me, which is cool,” Koepka admitted, acknowledging he’ll feel extra nerves about the reception he might receive.
His return timing seems less conspicuous after Patrick Reed announced just a day earlier that he’s also leaving the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League to return later this year.
“Is it coincidence? I don’t know,” Adam Scott said about the two LIV players announcing comebacks within weeks of each other. “I guess it’s inevitable given the structure they’re operating in with contracts expiring. As far as the PGA Tour goes, I think it benefits from having more good players here.”
Koepka’s return has generated so much interest that ESPN will broadcast coverage on its flagship channel from noon to 3 p.m. EST Thursday and Friday—the first time in nearly 20 years ESPN has offered live coverage of a regular PGA Tour event.
Torrey Pines itself carries significant appeal. The public course sits on the Pacific Ocean’s edge and hosts a tournament dating back to 1952. Most of its rich history centers around Tiger Woods, who won here eight times as a pro, including the 2008 U.S. Open.
This week also features Xander Schauffele’s 2024 debut. The two-time major champion and San Diego native hasn’t played since winning in Japan last fall.
There’s also the unusual situation of having two defending champions in the field.
Harris English won the Farmers Insurance Open last year, a victory that held special meaning for the Georgia native who fell in love with Torrey Pines when his father brought him here as a kid during his first California trip.
English was at another tournament recently when someone mentioned his win, and he looked over at Ludvig Aberg and said, “He’s actually won more recently than I have.”
That’s because the Genesis Invitational had to relocate to Torrey Pines last year due to deadly wildfires near Riviera in Pacific Palisades. Aberg held off a strong field down the stretch to claim that title.
“We’re kind of both defending coming into this week,” English said.
Koepka’s return comes with several conditions. He must make a $5 million charity donation, can’t access PGA Tour equity shares for five years, isn’t eligible for signature event exemptions, and can’t receive FedEx Cup bonus money this year.
To ensure no player loses a spot because of his return, the tour has added Koepka to fields rather than replacing someone. And to maintain threesomes for opening rounds, his presence means two additional players get in.
“Thank you, Brooks,” said Lanto Griffin, the 147th player in what would normally be a 144-man field.
Griffin has conditional status after finishing No. 125 in the FedEx Cup the first year the tour decided only the top 100 keep full cards. This is his favorite tournament, and he was losing hope as the seventh alternate just a week ago.
But as players withdrew, Griffin started calculating his chances. Taking nothing for granted, he was on the 11th hole in a cart checking out the qualifying course when he heard another player might withdraw.
“Monday morning my wife said I was three out, and then Michael Kim withdrew. That means I’m in,” Griffin said. “I texted Brooks’ caddie and they said they were playing for sure. Very fortunate.”
Koepka doesn’t have stellar history at Torrey Pines, except for tying for fourth in the 2021 U.S. Open. In the Farmers Insurance Open, he’s missed the cut three times and tied for 41st. He’s broken par only twice in 10 rounds at this PGA Tour event.
Now he faces a week as the center of attention for reasons he couldn’t have imagined when he first played Torrey in 2015. While Koepka says he’s excited, part of him seems uncertain about what to expect.
“Would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again,” Koepka said.
