Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour with a 1-over 73 in the first round of the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. The five-time major champion expressed nerves beforehand but received a warm welcome from fans. He bogeyed holes 4 and 13 before birdieing the 18th.
Brooks Koepka, absent from non-major PGA Tour events since March 2022 after joining LIV Golf, teed off on Thursday at Torrey Pines' South Course for the Farmers Insurance Open. His first competitive round since October 4, 2025, began at around 9:30 a.m. local time alongside Max Homa and Ludvig Åberg.
Koepka started solidly, parring the first four holes after a 301-yard drive on No. 1 and a two-putt from 10 feet. A three-putt bogey on the par-4 fourth, following a tee shot into a fairway bunker, dropped him to 1 over. He strung together pars through the front nine, finishing at 37, highlighted by a chip to an inch on No. 5 from rough.
On the back nine, Koepka parred holes 10 through 12. Trouble struck on the par-5 13th, where he took four strokes from 43 yards after a fairway wood from rough, leading to bogey and 2 over. He steadied with pars on 14-17, then birdied 18 with a chip to 7 feet after going over the green.
The 73 left him tied for 95th, 11 shots behind leader Justin Rose's 10-under 62 on the North Course. Koepka hit 6 of 14 fairways, averaged two putts on greens in regulation, and ranked 36th in strokes gained off the tee (0.172). His playing partners scored 75 and 78.
Pre-round nerves stemmed from uncertainty about fan reception, but Koepka noted, “From the first tee on, it was great. It actually made me settle down a little bit.” He added, “I think I’ve fallen back in love with the game,” citing family motivations like watching his son play. Fans shouted “Welcome back” throughout.
Analysts were optimistic; Golf Channel's Notah Begay said Koepka found rhythm late. Koepka praised his ball-striking but cited driver inconsistency and poor putting outside No. 18. He resumes Friday at 1:38 p.m. ET on the North Course.
Koepka supported Patrick Reed's announced LIV departure, saying, “I’m 100 percent behind him.”
