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...
WELCOME
The 35-year-old is due to arrive at 9am local time (12pm ET) where he will be quizzed on a number of subjects from his decision to leave LIV as well as the current state of his game.
I will bring you all of the key updates from Koepka's press conference, so sit tight and enjoy. As always, thank you for tuning in.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Then, on December 23, it was announced that Koepka would be leaving the LIV Golf League due to wanting to spend more time at home in Florida with his family.
Yet, a matter of days later and Koepka was being unveiled as a PGA Tour player once more via the circuit's Returning Member Program.
Earlier this month, it was then confirmed the five-time Major winner would make his first start of the season at this week's Farmers Insurance Open.
MOMENTS AWAY
KOEPKA HAS ARRIVED
RESUMING OR DIFFERENT?
Lot of new faces I don't know, but excited to meet them.
WHAT DID YOU MISS MOST?
My wife and son are coming this week and next, so that will be super exciting. I've grown up a lot over the past few months, so being close to them is really important.
MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN MAKING THE DECISION?
It was about my family. Had lot of conversations with my wife and my team, but this was what was best for me and my family. We all thought this was best.
WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT?
THE CHALLENGE TORREY PINES PRESENTS?
TIMELINE FOR LEAVING LIV
LIV and I left happy. I was released on December 23 and called Tiger, so we kept the ball rolling from there.
HOW TOUGH WILL THIS YEAR BE?
One of Koepka's goals is to win, but he's looking forward to the challenge of earning his way into Signature Events. Says he's excited about the prospect.
ANY NEW GEAR IN THE BAG?
I haven't really tinkered with anything. The M2 is staying in the bag, Koepka confirms. No new gear otherwise.
DID OFF-COURSE STRUGGLES CONTRIBUTE TO ON-COURSE STRUGGLES?
WERE THERE ANY FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR LEAVING LIV EARLY?
I'd prefer to keep all that internal. Yasir and Scott were great.
ON RESPONSE FROM FELLOW PROS
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.
WHAT WAS CHAT WITH TIGER LIKE?
Jay Monahan was going to be the next call, but Tiger is someone I've relied on for questions and answers in the past so I felt he was the most comfortable conversation for me.
HOW HAVE YOU GROWN?
WHERE WILL $5M DONATION GO?
EXPECTATION ON FAN RECEPTION?
WHAT WILL YOU MISS ABOUT LIV?
EMOTIONS ABOUT PLAYING AGAINST TOP PGA TOUR PLAYERS AGAIN
FUTURE SCHEDULE?
He confirms he will play The Players and "as much as possible before The Masters."
THAT'S ALL
The key takeaways are that he's outlined a little bit more of his schedule and he's just excited to get this week out of the way so that he can focus on playing golf again. There was also a little bit more context added in terms of the timeline of his decision to leave LIV but said most people have been very understanding of the call.
Koepka can now focus on preparing for the Farmers Insurance Open and look forward to his tee time alongside Ludvig Aberg and Max Homa on Thursday!
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.
KOEPKA ON WHY HE LEFT LIV GOLF:
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