Five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka has revealed he is "nervous" ahead of his PGA Tour return, partly because he's unsure how he will be received by fans out on the course.
But, with fans not arriving at Torrey Pines in numbers until the first round on Thursday, the 35-year-old admitted in his pre-tournament press conference that he's still not sure what the reaction will be and is eager to get the first round out of the way as soon as possible.
Koepka said: "Maybe I'm a little nervous about that as well just to see how, I guess, how the fans respond to it. I hope that they're excited. I hope that they're happy that I'm out here.
"You know, hopefully that goes, at least the conversations I've had with players that they're excited that I'm back and happy to see me play."
The Florida State University alumnus later went into a bit more detail on the reasons for and timeline of his LIV Golf exit.
The nine-time PGA Tour winner reiterated that the primary factor behind his LIV Golf u-turn was based on the wants and needs of his family.
Koepka's family endured a tough time last year, and the American is keen to spend a lot more time with them as they can travel to plenty more tournaments with him.
He said: "I'm not going to get into too much detail about the family issues that we've had, but yeah, I believe it was September, right around the Ryder Cup week, we had to be in New York, we were up there for a little bit.
"Circumstances kind of changed in my family a little bit. Then that's when I guess things started to change and evolve and just started to have those conversations of what's best for my family. So we took it from there.
"Then me and LIV, we left that agreement, everybody was happy with it. They understood the situation that I was in.
"Just excited to be out here. I think [December] 23rd I was released and then called Tiger right away, then that process got the ball rolling."
And what about his aims for the coming season?
Koepka said: "Yeah, I think obviously winning, I think that would be nice. Yeah, kind of touched on that question earlier, I've got to play well. You play good golf, everything takes care of itself.
"I'd like to try to get in those Signature Events and play well, but I understand I've got to earn that and I'm looking forward to that challenge.
"It would be something where it will be a little different spot and I've got to work my tail off and I'm excited about that. We'll see what happens, but I would love to come out and get a win."
Although winning might be a tall ask in his first start anywhere since the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last October, the Florida-born pro shared his excitement for "the grind" of earning his way into Signature Events.
He said: "That's the fun part, I love the grind, I've always enjoyed it. I guess it's a fresh start for me, which is cool. It's just another chapter I guess in my book. I'm excited for that.
"I feel like my game's in pretty good shape and I want to see where it's at. Obviously this week is a little bit different. But yeah, would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again. I'm super excited."
Updates From...
KOEPKA ON WHY HE LEFT LIV GOLF:
REACTION
That was a very interesting media address from the five-time Major champion. Koepka cut a vulnerable figure who was open in revealing he was nervous for the press conference and even how the fans will receive him this week at Torrey Pines.
I would imagine he will get a hero’s reception wherever he walks. It is clear he has had some big family issues last year, which he did not want to go into, and it genuinely sounds like he left LIV Golf to remain at home in Florida or at least the US more often while LIV continues to go more global.
He seems excited to try and earn his way into the big Signature Events and how this new chapter is exactly that, and a fresh start.
In terms of his game, he says he thinks it’s in good shape and is hoping to win out on tour this year, while he revealed he will play as much as possible prior to The Masters, which leads me to think he’ll add the Valspar Championship and Texas Open to his schedule which is currently Farmers-WM Phoenix-Cognizant-Players Championship. There are three Florida events there, which is evidence he’ll be spending more time at home with the family.
THAT'S ALL
FUTURE SCHEDULE?
EMOTIONS ABOUT PLAYING AGAINST TOP PGA TOUR PLAYERS AGAIN
WHAT WILL YOU MISS ABOUT LIV?
EXPECTATION ON FAN RECEPTION?
WHERE WILL $5M DONATION GO?
HOW HAVE YOU GROWN?
WHAT WAS CHAT WITH TIGER LIKE?
Koepka is doing a fantastic job of flat-batting questions regarding the political landscape between the PGA Tour and LIV. "I'm two days back in" is the common response.
ON RESPONSE FROM FELLOW PROS
DID OFF-COURSE STRUGGLES CONTRIBUTE TO ON-COURSE STRUGGLES?
HOW TOUGH WILL THIS YEAR BE?
TIMELINE FOR LEAVING LIV
THE CHALLENGE TORREY PINES PRESENTS?
WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT?
WHAT DID YOU MISS MOST?
RESUMING OR DIFFERENT?
KOEPKA HAS ARRIVED
MOMENTS AWAY
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
WELCOME
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.