Koepka cards 1-over 73 in return to PGA TOUR

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 on the South Course 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 96th.

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.