There was not much evidence suggesting Brooks Koepka would be in the mix at the Farmers Insurance Open, but it was hard not to picture a fairytale return for the five-time major winner at Torrey Pines.
Koepka is never an easy name to dismiss completely. But there were several good reasons why few expected him to come out on top this week.
The 35-year-old had missed the cut in three of his previous four appearances at Torrey Pines, and his form on LIV Golf throughout 2025 had not exactly turned heads – although he did put together a decent showing later in the year at the French Open on the DP World Tour.
So, while Koepka’s return was still significant, his showing at Torrey may have dulled some of that initial excitement.
Brooks Koepka shows good judgement in his first tournament back
Koepka did not play his best, but he did make the cut, starting the final round 19 shots behind Justin Rose. He later admitted his putter had let him down.
Some might have expected more from him, and it will not do much for the PGA Tour if he spends the season in the middle of the pack, especially since he still needs to qualify for signature events.
But in a way, coming back this week might have been a smart choice for Koepka.
Koepka was the first big name to leave LIV Golf and come back to the PGA Tour. There was a lot of attention on him before his first event back.
The past year has clearly been tough on Koepka and his family. He even seemed a bit tense during his first press conference back.
He is one of golf’s biggest stars, so there will always be attention and pressure when he plays. That is not going to change.
However, his performance at Torrey Pines likely tempered expectations as he now heads to the WM Phoenix Open next week, having finished his first day back at school.
Brooks Koepka looks to the Phoenix Open, a tournament that has served him well in the past
Koepka can now shift his focus to TPC Scottsdale. And if there is a spot on the PGA Tour where he is likely to feel comfortable, it is there.
He has a good history at the WM Phoenix Open, having won it twice and finishing third in 2022.
If Koepka had chosen Arizona for his return, he might have needed time to shake off the rust at a venue where expectations were high based on his past results.
His return might not have gone as many had hoped, but sometimes taking a step back is exactly what sets up progress down the line.
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