LA JOLLA, Calif. — The golf world was thrilled when Brooks Koepka walked down the slim fairway at Torrey Pines for the final time on the 2021 U.S. Open.
Koepka was ranked No. 10 on this planet on the time, had simply completed runner-up on the PGA Championship (his tenth top-10 end in a serious in his final 15 begins), and had the fourth-best odds to win that week. His aura again then was unmistakable. He had gained 4 main titles and developed a popularity that exuded a form of cool nonchalance that was matched solely by his easy confidence on the game’s greatest levels. He wasn’t afraid to allow you to be part of it both.
“I believe typically the majors are the simplest video games to win,” Koepka stated in 2019. “Half of individuals kill themselves at majors, however mentally I do know I can win most majors.”
Watch the remainder of Koepka and Torrey Pines’ golf on ESPN and ESPN+
On Tuesday at Torrey Pines, nearly 5 years after that U.S. Open, there was a unique Koepka, nonetheless sporting Nike gear, however this time beneath the PGA Tour banner relatively than LIV. He was mild-mannered and shy, and though he was grateful for the chance to return, he had not but crossed the picket fence {of professional} golf’s chasm and was not absolutely open but.
“I am positively just a little nervous this week,” Koepka stated. “There are lots of people who do not know.”
It will be straightforward to attribute that angle to his present place within the recreation. Koepka is ranked 255th on this planet in response to the Official World Golf Rankings (LIV doesn’t earn OWGR factors) and 162nd in response to DataGolf. He has missed the minimize 5 occasions in his previous eight non-LIV appearances, together with three missed cuts in final 12 months’s majors. Koepka’s typical confidence should still be there, however that is on the again burner for now.
Current type apart, Koepka is among the guys who not less than made the needle vibrate, if not transfer it. The tour’s response to his want to return was a reminder of that.
Not solely has Koepka been added to the Farmers Open area, however his return has been closely promoted on the tour’s social media channels. This season’s slogan, “The place the Finest Belong,” was shortly included into promotions that includes Koepka. He was positioned in a high-profile group, and the tour enlisted ESPN to broadcast the primary two rounds on its foremost community.
“It is all the time good to really feel wished and accepted,” Koepka stated. “I am simply wanting ahead to it. I is likely to be just a little nervous about going Thursday to get again to enjoying golf. That is the place I am most snug.”
Away from the rostrum, Koepka seemed relaxed, lastly capable of give attention to what has required him of late: his recreation. He practiced on the follow vary, engaged on his swing along with his caddy and coach, and welcomed greetings, hugs and congratulations from the gamers. On Tuesday, Koepka performed on the entrance 9 at Torrey North, strolling alongside Fred {Couples}, who Koepka stated in March he wished to return to the PGA Tour.
Koepka’s efficiency on the course this week is incidental. His presence alone was a victory for the brand new PGA Tour beneath CEO Brian Rolup, and that victory was additional cemented Wednesday with the announcement of Patrick Reed’s personal return to the PGA Tour.
“I believe folks wish to be on the PGA Tour. It is the very best tour on this planet, probably the most aggressive tour,” stated JJ Spaun. “I believe Patrick might be an important addition to this tour, and I believe that speaks volumes in regards to the route of the tour.”
If Koepka’s fast return was a silver bullet for LIV on tour, Reed’s addition and affect will probably be a good larger blow. For Koepka, the tour was keen to bend the foundations to supply immediate entry. For Reed, there was no want for that.
“After I gained (in Dubai), I noticed how a lot I missed the grueling fights and dogfights. That is me,” Reid instructed ESPN. “I all the time knew I’d come again to the PGA Tour. I do know I’ve to make cash to come back again, however I am okay with that.”
To date beneath Lorup, it’s clear that the Tour’s prime precedence is the mandate, the mandate, to do every little thing doable to strengthen itself. Any dangerous blood, resentment or resentment in the direction of the gamers who abandoned for LIV is much less essential than having the ability to strengthen the tour by that includes the very best gamers within the sport.
By permitting Koepka to return instantly and facilitating Reed’s return, the tour successfully shifted the main focus from the endless query of whether or not the 2 excursions may discover a method to work collectively to a completely completely different query. In different phrases, who would be the subsequent participant to attempt to return to the PGA Tour?
“As you may see, the dominoes have began falling. Perhaps the blokes on the LIV Tour aren’t that comfortable on the skin and the grass is not greener on the opposite facet,” Harris English stated. “They’re seeing the PGA Tour getting stronger and having extra success, they usually appear to know that cash is not every little thing. Identical to it would not fulfill them, it would not fulfill me. They’re nonetheless opponents, they’re aggressive folks, they usually love enjoying towards the very best gamers on this planet on the greatest occasions. I believe they’re beginning to notice that for me, that is what it’s right here on the PGA Tour and that is what fulfills them.”
Whether or not cooperative, opportunistic, or each, the Tour is at the moment enjoying an offensive function beneath Lorap and even capitalizing on LIV’s distinctive construction. As a result of LIV gamers are beneath contract, gamers like Reed are successfully free brokers after their contracts expire, permitting the tour to reap the benefits of a path again to play, however not with out the crippling suspension and ineligibility for participant fairness till 2030.
It stays to be seen whether or not that might be sufficient for a few of the gamers who stayed.
“It is a delicate subject for gamers,” stated Adam Scott, participant director of the PGA Tour Coverage Committee. “We’re aware of our membership as a complete first, however we’re additionally listening to what folks need on the PGA Tour. We have now to consider what’s greatest for the Tour and our members going ahead. So not every little thing might be rock-solid without end and we’ve got to stay open-minded.”
Scott stated the choice to create a returning member program and permit Koepka to return instantly was “unanimous.” Maverick McNeely added that whereas the present Participant Advisory Committee was not concerned in Koepka’s determination, Rolup held a particular session with members to ensure everybody was on the identical web page.
On Wednesday, whereas the information of Reid’s impending return to tour was a scorching subject on the sphere, Rolup spent loads of time on the driving vary and placing inexperienced speaking to gamers. The entire gamers interviewed appeared constructive about Reed and Koepka’s return, not less than publicly.
“I believe one in all his strengths is that he is a really articulate communicator. Due diligence was performed on this determination and all avenues have been thought of,” McNeely stated of Rolup. “Finally, we employed Brian to make the very best determination for the PGA Tour, and he did that. Should you return a couple of years and take into consideration how powerful LIV was and there was a time after we have been questioning if the way forward for the Tour was safe, I believe we’re all actually excited that this actually looks like a spot to play the very best degree of golf, and I believe that is what’s occurred in the previous few weeks.”
