Brooks Koepka’s highly anticipated return to the PGA Tour in 2026 has gotten off to a rocky start, with the five-time major champion struggling to find his form in his first two events back on the circuit.
Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf and navigating the tour’s new Returning Member Program (created out of thin air) made his debut at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He opened with a 1-over 73 on the South Course but bounced back with a strong 4-under 68 on the North Course to make the cut on the number at 3-under total. Despite the weekend appearance, his performance faded over the final two rounds (posting 73 and 70) to finish T56 at 4-under par, earning $22,176 in prize money (most of it confiscated to pay off California’s sky-high taxes).
Putting woes were a recurring theme, as Koepka admitted post-round frustrations, noting he ranked near the bottom of the field on the greens and describing his struggles as “it can’t get any worse.” He cited being overly cautious and losing significant strokes putting, even as other parts of his game showed flashes of potential.
The challenges continued the following week at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Koepka carded a disappointing 4-over 75 in the opening round, followed by a 2-under 69 on Friday. The improvement wasn’t enough, as he missed the cut at 2-over, joining other big names like Jordan Spieth on the sidelines. The missed cut came despite a mid-week equipment tweak, switching to a TaylorMade Spider Tour X mallet putter in an attempt to address his green struggles.
These early results have had immediate consequences. With limited FedExCup points accumulated so far — coupled with restrictions under the Returning Member Program that bar him from sponsor exemptions into Signature Events — Koepka was unable to qualify for the next two high-profile tournaments: the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.
The 35-year-old has spoken about the nerves of reintegration, family priorities driving his move back, and a desire for a “new chapter,” but the initial outings highlight a game that may no longer be elite. He was not competitive in 2025, either on the LIV tour or in majors.
Koepka is next expected to compete at the Cognizant Classic (the old Honda Classic) at PGA National later in February, where he’ll aim to build momentum and position himself for bigger fields ahead. For a player known for peaking in majors, these early hiccups serve as a reminder that reclaiming top-tier consistency, especially at 35, on the PGA Tour may take time.
