Brooks Koepka admitted he was nervous about his return to the PGA Tour.
In an incredibly vulnerable moment, the typically stoic Koepka said he cares about what people think about him. He was scared to step into the press conference ahead of his PGA Tour return at Torrey Pines.
No one really knew what the reaction would be to Koepka’s PGA Tour comeback. The players could have been unhappy that he was allowed straight back after taking millions from LIV. But for the most part, he was welcomed back with open arms.
The media met him with similar warmth ahead of the Farmers Insurance Open, showing Koepka he really had nothing to be nervous about. But there was one final piece to this: the fan reaction.
LIV Golf has fractured the golfing world, and the fans have been deeply affected. No longer can they watch the best golfers on the planet compete week after week. Thanks to LIV, those days are gone for now, and Koepka was a huge part of that.
After his opening round at the Farmers Insurance Open, Koepka revealed how he was received by the fans on the first tee box.
Brooks Koepka says the fans made him ‘feel good’ at Torrey Pines
On the opening tee box, it became clear that there was a swell of support for Koepka at Torrey Pines. The supporters in the galleries were simply happy to see him back on the PGA Tour.
Koepka was asked if he did anything to prepare for the reaction to his return from the galleries, and he said, “No, I didn’t. I don’t like thinking ahead at all or trying to anticipate what was going to happen, but I wasn’t sure, which is kind of weird, being uneasy or you don’t really know.
“From the first tee on, it was great. It actually made me settle down a little bit. Like I said, it made me feel good just to be out here. It was a good group with Max and Ludvig; I enjoyed that. The whole day was great.”
Koepka never really took to life on LIV Golf. But for the first time in a long time, he looks to be enjoying his golf once again.
Brooks Koepka explains why he was nervous for PGA Tour press conference
Koepka has been refreshingly vulnerable since returning to the PGA Tour. He’s been open about the fear he felt stepping into the media room once again.
He was asked what made him so nervous to speak to the media, and he admitted it was because he cared what people thought of him.
Koepka said, “I think I was more nervous for the press stuff on Tuesday,” he said. He continued, “It was good to get that out of the way I think just because, like I said, I just care. I care about what everybody’s thinking out here, what everybody’s doing, and just trying to be as good of a person and good of a player as I can be.
“Just wanted a warm reception. Just like everybody else, you walk into a room nobody wants to feel exiled, they just want to be loved. I mean, that’s human nature I think.”
Koepka has always given off a “tough guy” demeanor, seemingly never caring about what anyone else thinks. That was put to him following these comments, and he hinted at how lonely the experience of leaving LIV could have been for him.
He said, “I don’t know, that’s tough. I’m the only one in the entire world that’s going through this situation so it’s very difficult to explain. But I’m enjoying it, I really am.”
He’s right. Koepka is in a completely unique situation, so if he hadn’t met with this warmth, it would have been incredibly isolating. But thanks to the media, the players and the fans, Koepka can once again enjoy his golf.
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