Brooks Koepka didn’t quite have his best stuff in the opening round at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday, his first PGA Tour start since leaving LIV Golf.
Koepka signed for a 1-over 73 on the tough South Course at Torrey Pines, carding just one birdie on the day coming on the par-5 18th.
The West Palm Beach, Fla. native dealt with his struggles both off of the tee and on the greens, hitting just 42.86 per cent of fairways and recording -1.467 Strokes Gained: Putting over the course of the opening round in San Diego.
Paired alongside Ludvig Aberg and Max Homa as part of a star-studded grouping, Koepka drew a large gallery for much of the day on Thursday, and later revealed to reporters that he was feeling the nerves for his highly-anticipated return.
Why was the five-time major champion nervous?
“Just because I care,” said an emotional Koepka after the round. “I think I’ve fallen back in love with the game. And honestly, watching my son play a little bit and wanting to be able to see him watch me play well and realize how much this game’s given me, how fun it is, and how cool it is to just be out here.”
Justin Rose held the lead at 10-under on the North Course, where scoring was much easier to come by on Thursday.
Five Canadians also teed it up at Torrey Pines for the Farmers, with Richmond Hill, Ont.’s Taylor Pendrith posting the low round of the day among his countrymen at 2-under.
Mackenzie Hughes (Hamilton, Ont.), Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.), and A.J. Ewart (Coquitlam, B.C.) all came in at 1-under on the day for a share of 73rd on the leaderboard, while Winnipeg’s Sudarshan Yellamarju turned in a 2-over 74.
