Brooks Koepka is nervous. That’s not a sentence often associated with the five-time major champion and golf’s preeminent big-game hunter.
But there was Koepka on Tuesday at Torrey Pines, reintroducing himself as a PGA Tour member after his defection from LIV Golf, talking about the nerves he felt. Nerves for the press conference. Nerves to be in front of PGA Tour fans again. Nerves to have what he expects will be tough conversations with some of the PGA Tour members who never left. Koepka said he was “antsy” to get to Thursday’s first round at the Farmers Insurance Open. He wants to be inside the ropes, which is where a fighter is most comfortable.
Brooks Koepka is nervous, yes. But beneath the nerves lies something else. Something that looks more like the Brooks Koepka we’ve come to know over the last decade: a competitive excitement.
Koepka returns to a PGA Tour that looks different than the one he left in 2022. It’s a PGA Tour that is now looking up at World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has won 20 times in just under three years. When Koepka left for LIV in June of 2022, Scheffler was just beginning his ascent after ripping off four wins in six starts, including the 2022 Masters. Another thing that’s changed since Koepka was last a Tour member? McIlroy’s career Grand Slam-clinching Masters win last year matched Koepka’s major total; his major edge over McIlroy is gone.
“Obviously, Scottie’s been dominant, I guess is probably the right word,” Koepka said Tuesday. “Yeah, Rory’s got five now. I don’t think anybody’s shocked by this if you’ve watched golf over the last few years, how well those guys are playing. I’m excited to battle with them. I think that will be really fun. I think just the competitive side of me, obviously, you obviously want to do a little bit better but that’s going to be very tough to do better than Scottie right now.
“I’m excited for it. I want to play with those guys, see where I’m at and how I can get better.”
How often Koepka gets to tee it up against McIlroy and Scheffler will be up to him. He’s exempt into the majors and is in the field at the Players Championship. But as part of his agreement to come back to the PGA Tour, Koepka must play his way into the Signature Events. He is not eligible to receive a sponsor’s invite.
That suits Brooks Koepka just fine.
A major killer who thrives on slights — be they real or perceived — loves the thought of needing to prove himself again. Before Brooks Koepka was that Brooks Koepka, he was a DP World Tour grinder with loads of talent and a chip on his shoulder to prove he belonged among the world’s best.
Now, through his own actions and the guidelines of the “Returning Member Program,” he gets to do that again.
“That’s the fun part, I love the grind, I’ve always enjoyed it,” Koepka said of needing to play his way into Signature Events. “I guess it’s a fresh start for me, which is cool. It’s just another chapter in my book. I’m excited for that. I feel like my game’s in pretty good shape, and I want to see where it’s at. Obviously, this week is a little bit different. But yeah, would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again. I’m super excited.
“I’d like to try to get in those Signature events and play well, but I understand I’ve got to earn that and I’m looking forward to that challenge,” Koepka added. “It would be something where it will be a little different spot and I’ve got to work my tail off and I’m excited about that.”
Brooks Koepka, nervous? He’s also champing at the bit. To face a new challenge, to start a different chapter, to be a PGA Tour member again. He’s excited to show he’s still Brooks Koepka, five-time major winner and generational champion.
Don’t expect the nerves to last. That Brooks Koepka has a Thursday tee time and a new mountain to climb.
