Brooks Koepka leans on Tiger Woods as PGA Tour return begins at Torrey Pines

Koepka, 35, ended his Saudi-backed LIV contract in December with a year still remaining and will make his first PGA Tour appearance outside the majors since March 2022 at this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He admitted the return has brought an unfamiliar mix of nerves and relief.

"I was released on the 23rd of December and I called Tiger straight away," Koepka said. "I've always had a good relationship with him and he was the most comfortable person to speak to about it."

With PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp still new in the role, and former commissioner Jay Monahan no longer in charge, Koepka said Woods was the natural first contact. Woods, now a central figure on the PGA Tour board and chair of the Future Competitions Committee, later backed the decision to allow Koepka a path back, calling it a move that strengthened the tour.

Family considerations were central to Koepka's decision. Married with a young son, he said he wanted to prioritise time at home, with his wife Jena revealing last year that she had suffered a pregnancy loss. "I don't regret anything," Koepka said. "I've learned a lot and enjoyed the ride wherever I've been."

Under a newly created returning-member programme, Koepka is the first player to come back from LIV Golf, though it comes at a cost. He will make a 5 million dollars charity contribution, receive no FedEx Cup bonus money this season, have no access to PGA Tour equity shares for five years and will not be eligible for the tour's 20 million dollars signature events until he qualifies on merit.

Despite those restrictions, Koepka described the move as a "fresh start" and said his game felt in good shape. He also acknowledged uncertainty over how fans might react after his high-profile move to LIV in 2022, when he accepted a lucrative deal reportedly worth nine figures.

"I'm a little nervous to see how the fans respond," he said. "I hope they're excited and happy that I'm back out here."

Support from fellow players has been strong. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and others have welcomed Koepka's return, while Justin Rose said his presence "moves the needle" for a tour undergoing major structural change.

For now, Koepka is focused on getting back to competition rather than the broader politics of golf's ongoing split. "That's out of my hands," he said. "My job is to go play golf and tee it up."