Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka rarely displays apprehension, yet he admitted feeling anxious on Tuesday during his press conference in La Jolla, California, prior to rejoining the PGA Tour. Having overcome that initial challenge, Koepka could then concentrate solely on his game Thursday, carding an initial 1-over 73 at the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open.
“My nervousness stemmed from my commitment,” Koepka explained. “I believe I’ve rediscovered my passion for golf. Frankly, seeing my son play a bit and wishing for him to observe me, or rather hoping he sees me perform skillfully and comprehends the immense opportunities this sport has provided me, its sheer enjoyment, and the privilege of being present here.”
With his score, Koepka finds himself trailing the initial leader, Justin Rose, by 11 shots. Rose dominated the North Course at Torrey Pines, delivering an exceptional 10-under 62. Among competitors on the tougher South Course, where Koepka also played, Seamus Power recorded the best round with a 7-under 65. Both Power and Koepka anticipate an easier challenge on Friday, given that the North Course proved over three strokes simpler than the South Course during the first round.
Thursday not only represented Koepka’s initial appearance on the PGA Tour (excluding major tournaments) since the 2022 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, but it was also his first competitive outing since the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in early October 2025. Consequently, a certain degree of competitive inactivity was expected as he competed alongside Max Homa and Ludvig Åberg.
“My performance felt fairly solid,” Koepka stated. “My ball striking was excellent. I struggled to find the fairways consistently. When I connected squarely with the ball, I believed I executed a high-quality shot. I didn’t sink many putts, apart from the one on the 18th. Yes, it felt positive. It’s been some time since I participated in competitive golf, so I’m pleased with my current form. I simply need to gradually regain my rhythm.”
Koepka’s main challenges arose from his drives and putting, as he found it difficult to consistently land his ball on the fairway. He managed only one birdie, even though he created several promising opportunities. The 35-year-old commenced his round with a seemingly effortless swing on the par-4 1st, leaving his approach shot just 10 feet from the hole for what could have been an early birdie, but it eluded him.
Despite hitting his initial four greens in regulation, Koepka struggled with his tee shots drifting to the right, resulting in a bogey on the coastal par-4 4th after needing three putts from roughly 50 feet. He squandered a chance on the reachable par-5 6th, settling for par and completing the front nine at 1 over.
Koepka navigated a demanding section of the course skillfully without further damage, reaching the par-5 13th with a prime opportunity to return to even par. However, after powerfully hitting a fairway wood from the rough, short of the green, he experienced an unlucky bounce, with his third shot ending up beyond the green, setting up a challenging chip and putt. Failing to convert for par, Koepka slipped to 2 over.
While that bogey added another mark to Koepka’s score, it was succeeded by smooth, controlled swings. Koepka successfully found the fairway on his final two drives and hit four greens in regulation. His second shot on the finishing par-5 flew past the green, presenting him with another challenging recovery, which he managed to convert, bringing his score back to 1 over.
Overall, Koepka seemed quite close to a better performance. He often had to play defensively on birdie putts, leaving himself downhill looks. Furthermore, luck wasn’t consistently on his side with bounces. As the round continued, he found his rhythm. He maintained his patience and composure, and the promising aspect is that conditions should improve for him going forward – both due to playing on the North Course on Friday and the anticipation that the attention around his comeback will diminish.
“I’m grateful for absolutely everything,” Koepka stated. “Simply having the chance to be on the course. I believe that’s the most crucial element. Just being present and observing how rapidly everything has aligned has genuinely astonished me, and I’m simply thankful to be here and vie against these players.”
Rose excels on the North Course
The perpetually impressive veteran! Rose unleashed a remarkable 10 birdies late on Thursday, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard and securing the outright lead after the first round. The 45-year-old is well-acquainted with posting low scores early in the Farmers Insurance Open, having started his 2019 campaign with a 63. He ultimately triumphed in that tournament and appears eager to replicate that success, coming just seven starts after his recent win at the St. Jude Championship during last summer’s FedEx Cup Playoffs.
