Brooks Koepka is officially back on the PGA Tour, and boy, does he look happy to be there. Koepka spoke at length about finding his love for the game after his opening round at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Brooks Koepka is officially back on the PGA Tour, and boy, does he look happy to be there.
Koepka spoke at length about finding his love for the game after his opening round at the Farmers Insurance Open. The five-time major winner left LIV Golf this offseason, becoming the first major name to cut ties with the Saudi-backed league.
He shot a one-over 73 through his opening round on an incredibly difficult South Course at Torrey Pines. Koepka played well throughout the round, but was about as cold as you can be on the greens.
The American said that seeing his son, Crew Koepka, play golf lit a fire underneath him once again, but Koepka also explained the impact Scottie Scheffler had on him as he fell back in love with the game.
How Scottie Scheffler helped Brooks Koepka fall back in love with golf
Scheffler dominated the 2025 season in a way that we haven’t seen since Tiger Woods in the early 2000s. He won two majors and six PGA Tour events, and he’s already taken his first victory of the 2026 season at the American Express last week.
Koepka actually played in Scheffler’s group for his very first PGA Tour win at the 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open. This was put to him in a press conference, and Koepka revealed the impact Scheffler had on his PGA Tour return.
He said, “It’s always impressive anytime you play with Scottie. Just being around him, the way he goes about it. Him and Ted, they come up with a good game plan.
“Scottie’s execution is really good. It’s impressive how long he’s been this consistent and played this well.
“It’s cool to see, right? Obviously, I’ve watched a lot of golf and watched a lot of him. I think that also plays a part in kind of driving this falling in love with the game again as well.”
Scheffler’s artistry on the golf course has captured the imagination of golf fans everywhere, and it has played a significant role in the recent rise in viewership for the PGA Tour. He’s been so incredible that it’s even inspired a five-time major winner like Koepka to find the fun in golf once again.
What Scottie Scheffler said about Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return
When Koepka initially left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, tour golfers were critical of the American. Rory McIlroy and Woods were among those to express their confusion about his decision.
But upon his return, the same players have welcomed him back with open arms. Koepka said that the first person he called was Woods once he’d made the decision, and McIlroy said he was happy to see Koepka back.
As did Scheffler, who was unaware of the impact he’d had on the decision. He said to reporters prior to the American Express, “He had a desire to come back on tour. I’m not sure when it began, but I’m sure in the last few months he’s had a pretty strong desire to be back out here.
“And I’m glad that Brian and the guys on our board were able to figure out a way for him to get back and start competing out here.
“I think it’s good for the tour, especially in the long run. I think it’s great to have a guy who loves to compete out here, like Brooks does. I think he’s won five majors and a few more tournaments out here on tour.
“He’s a guy that loves to compete, and I love to compete against him. And I’m looking forward to getting to do that a lot more often this year.”
He’s happy for now, but maybe not so happy if Koepka is able to recapture his major-winning form and steal one from Scheffler!
Category: General Sports
