Brooks Koepka tees off powerfully at Torrey Pines during his 2026 Farmers Insurance Open return to the PGA Tour.
Brooks Koepka tees off powerfully at Torrey Pines during his 2026 Farmers Insurance Open return to the PGA Tour.
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Brooks Koepka returns to PGA Tour at 2026 Farmers Insurance Open

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Brooks Koepka makes his PGA Tour comeback at the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open, marking his first start since leaving LIV Golf. The event at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego features a strong field, with Xander Schauffele as the betting favorite. The tournament runs from January 29 to February 1, with a $9.6 million purse.

The 2026 Farmers Insurance Open tees off Thursday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, bringing together a competitive field highlighted by Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour. Koepka, a five-time major champion, departed LIV Golf last month and joined the Tour's new Returning Member Program, which requires a full schedule but excludes signature events. He tees off in Round 1 at 12:32 p.m. ET on the South Course alongside Ludvig Åberg and Max Homa. Koepka expressed excitement mixed with nerves, stating, "I guess it’s a fresh start for me, which is cool. It’s just another chapter, I guess, in my book." His family, including wife Jena Sims and son Crew, will be on site, a key factor in his decision to return for more time stateside.

Xander Schauffele enters as the +1200 favorite in his season debut, ranked sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking after winning the Baycurrent Classic in October. Other top contenders include Åberg at +1800, Cameron Young at +2000, and Patrick Cantlay, J.J. Spaun, and Si Woo Kim at +2500. Defending champion Harris English, who won at 8-under last year, is at +3250 to +4000. Koepka opens at +5000 to +6000 odds, reflecting his recent major struggles, including three missed cuts in his last four.

The tournament splits the first two rounds between the North and South courses before moving exclusively to the challenging South Course—a 7,765-yard par-72 and two-time U.S. Open venue—for the weekend. Coverage begins Thursday with ESPN from 12-3 p.m. ET and Golf Channel from 3-7 p.m. ET, shifting to Golf Channel and CBS on Saturday and Sunday. Expert picks favor longshots like Taylor Pendrith at 40-1, who has top-10 finishes in recent years at Torrey Pines, and Keegan Bradley at 46-1, the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain with three top-10s here. The event awards 500 FedExCup points to the winner, who earns $1.728 million.

What people are saying

Initial reactions on X to Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour at the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open mix excitement from media and official accounts sharing highlights, interviews, and arrivals, with Koepka expressing eagerness to compete against top players and gratitude. Skeptical users question his commitment after leaving for LIV Golf and quick reinstatement. Betting discussions feature Koepka for top placements amid high-engagement hype.

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Brooks Koepka returns to Players Championship after PGA Tour hiatus

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Brooks Koepka is competing in the Players Championship for the first time since 2022, marking his fourth event back on the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf. The five-time major winner has expressed surprise at the warm reception from fans and players. He returns via the PGA Tour's Returning Member Program, having paid a $5 million fine to charity.

The 2026 Players Championship, golf's unofficial fifth major, begins Thursday, March 12, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with a record $25 million purse and a 123-player field including 46 of the top 50 in the world. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters as the +480 betting favorite after back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024, while defending 2025 champion Rory McIlroy is a game-time decision due to back spasms that led to his Arnold Palmer Invitational withdrawal and skipping practice rounds (+1800 odds).

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