All articles tagged with #brooks koepka
Justin Thomas says it's a bummer that the Cognizant Classic has lost star players due to a crowded PGA Tour schedule, with Brooks Koepka headlining a weakened field. He describes the calendar as a 'good problem' but notes many top players are skipping the Florida event to prep for Bay Hill and The Players, while he returns from back surgery and would love to play Torrey Pines and Colonial but can’t fit four or five weeks in a row.
Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour and Patrick Reed’s forthcoming departure underscore LIV Golf’s fragile position: star defections are mounting, while the league’s ratings are weak and its business model shows little sign of sustainable momentum, raising questions about its long-term viability even as a few players stay for money.
Justin Rose fired a 65 to extend his Farmers Insurance Open lead to 17-under, while Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour and made the cut on three-under after a first-round 73 and a second-round 68; Xander Schauffele’s streak of made cuts ended and several other top players missed the cut.
Justin Rose shot a 10-under 62 on Torrey Pines' North course to take a one-shot lead at the Farmers Insurance Open, while Brooks Koepka, back on the PGA Tour after LIV, shot 73 on the tougher South course in his return.
Justin Rose fired a 10-under 62 to take a one-shot lead at the Farmers Insurance Open, as Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour with a 73 and a warm fan reception; Justin Lower sits one back after a 9-under start that included two eagles.
Jena Sims, wife of Brooks Koepka, fired back at a social-media troll who questioned how Koepka allows her to be online, replying with a bikini-photo screenshot captioned 'I found one that doesn’t require permission.' Sims had posted a bikini-reel about ending Dry January as Koepka returned to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV. The couple, married since 2022, welcomed a child in 2023 and remain active in golf and media ventures.
An opinion piece arguing that LIV Golf, backed by Saudi money, is doomed. It notes Koepka and Reed’s return to the PGA Tour as evidence that the lure of money cannot match the legacy of traditional golf stars, predicts LIV’s eventual fade, and discusses potential exit strategies or alliances (e.g., with the DP World Tour) as Saudi interests waver. The piece stresses that LIV’s high-spending venture lacks sustainable depth or lasting impact beyond cash incentives.
The article previews the Farmers Insurance Open DFS slate, highlighting Brooks Koepka's return from LIV and its potential impact on lineups, the Torrey Pines North/South rotation for the event, a brief recap of last week’s American Express results (notably Scheffler’s dominance and value plays), and guidance on lineup construction, plus a note on The Solver's new PGA simulation tools for subscribers.
Brooks Koepka announced his return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf and revealed that his first call about restarting his Tour career was to Tiger Woods, highlighting their relationship and Woods’ guidance. Koepka is set to make his first Tour start since 2022 at the Farmers Insurance Open and will also appear in next week’s Waste Management, utilizing the Tour’s Returning Member Program.
The Washington Post plans a lean Olympic presence amid cost-cutting fears for its sports operation, while ESPN will simulcast Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour—the first live PGA Tour coverage on a linear network in 20 years. NFL EVP Hans Schroeder lauds the Monday Night Wild Card window for expanding viewership as the league heads into free agency; the ACC Championship shifts to a noon ET slot to avoid Big Ten primetime, and NBC will offer 4K All Day coverage for the Patriots–Seahawks Super Bowl and Winter Olympics. Additional notes cover ESPN/ABC/NBA scheduling tweaks and Jason Kelce’s role as a special correspondent for an NHL Stadium Series game.
During his Dubai season debut, Rory McIlroy criticized LIV Golf for a lack of impactful signings and said their product won’t improve, while noting Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour and supporting the idea of LIV players rejoining the traditional circuit.
Rory McIlroy says LIV Golf has hit a low point and will need to spend hundreds of millions to stay competitive after Brooks Koepka’s departure; Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour with a $5m fine and playing restrictions, while Bryson DeChambeau’s rumored $500m deal looms as LIV’s biggest potential signing. With few marquee LIV acquisitions and stalled talks with the PGA Tour, McIlroy argues the traditional tour is strengthening as the 2026 season starts in Dubai.
Wyndham Clark voiced skepticism about Brooks Koepka's quick return to the PGA Tour via the Returning Member Program after leaving LIV, saying it's good for golf but frustrating that Koepka benefited from a blank-check deal and can “have the cake and eat it.” He notes the return comes with penalties including a $5 million charitable contribution, a five-year forfeiture of potential equity from the PGA Tour's Player Equity Program (estimated losses of $50–$85 million), no FedEx Cup bonus in 2026, and an obligation to earn his way into higher-purse events, and adds that many players would have taken similar paths, even if the arrangement is controversial.
LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil says he would have done the same as the PGA Tour in reinstating Brooks Koepka, emphasizing open pathways for players. Koepka exited LIV amicably and is returning to the PGA Tour under the Returning Member Program with penalties: a $5 million charitable fine, no sponsor exemptions to signature events, no FedEx Cup bonus this year, and five-year limits on equity grants; he remains PGA Tour exempt through 2028 due to his majors. O’Neil urges no holy war and says he wishes Koepka well, amid ongoing friction with the DP World Tour.
The PGA Tour launched a Returning Member Program offering an elite route back to the top level for players who have achieved elite performance, specifically those who won a major (The Players, Masters, PGA, U.S. Open, or The Open) between 2022 and 2025. Brooks Koepka has agreed to a five-year forfeiture of potential equity in the Tour’s Player Equity Program and a $5 million charitable contribution as part of the terms. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith meet the criteria and have until Feb. 2 to decide on returning; Phil Mickelson does not meet the criteria. The move signals growing momentum for the PGA Tour over LIV amid ongoing questions about a merger and LIV’s future.)