Koepka cards 1-over 73 in return to PGA TOUR, Rose leads 1st round

Brooks Kopeka recorded a 1-over 73 on Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open in a rusty return to the PGA TOUR after being reinstated earlier in January.

Koepka carded two bogeys but ended his day on a high note with a birdie on the final hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines. Thursday's scoring average was nearly three strokes higher than on the North Course, per Twenty First Group's Justin Ray.

Koepka's lone birdie moved him to a tie for 102nd on the leaderboard. He acknowledged that nerves were among the emotions he felt as he made his return.

"Just because I care," Koepka said, per Golfweek's Cameron Jourdan. "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, or I guess want him to 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."

The TOUR established the Returning Member Program to facilitate Koepka's reinstatement after his three-season stint with LIV Golf. As part of his return, Koepka must forfeit his stake in the TOUR's Player Equity Program for five years and make a $5-million charitable donation.

The parameters of the Returning Member Program allowed Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith to be reinstated on TOUR as well, but all three opted to honor their LIV contracts for the upcoming season.

Patrick Reed announced Wednesday that he's leaving LIV and seeking reinstatement to the TOUR for the 2027 season. As a past champion, Reed is eligible to play in select events later this season through exemptions.

While all eyes were on Koepka on Thursday, it was Justin Rose who raced out to the early lead in California. The Englishman carded a 10-under 62 after missing the cut at The American Express last week.