"Nobody Said It to My Face": Brooks Koepka's Honest Take on How Players Have Treated Him Since Returning
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Brooks Koepka USA on the 18th tee during Round 3 of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 at St. Andrews Golf Club, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. 05/10/2024. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey St. Andrews Old course St. Andrews Fife Scotland Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Brooks Koepka USA on the 18th tee during Round 3 of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 at St. Andrews Golf Club, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. 05/10/2024. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey St. Andrews Old course St. Andrews Fife Scotland Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
American professional Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January 2026 after his stint on LIV Golf. On Thursday, June 11, after round 1 of the RBC Canadian Open, he spoke openly about what that reception has looked like.
The 35-year-old American shot a six-under 64 in the opening round of the tournament. He made eight birdies, two bogeys, and eight pars to share the first-round lead. Speaking at his post-round press conference, he addressed what life back on Tour has felt like among fellow players.
"Yeah, it's been great. It's been nice to be back. I've enjoyed it. I think the players have been very receptive. I haven't heard, at least nobody said it to my face about anything. A lot of, 'We're glad you back.' "
PGA, Golf Herren Cognizant Classic - Final Round Mar 1, 2026 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament. Palm Beach Gardens Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xReinholdxMatayx 20260301_sns_mb4_00093
PGA, Golf Herren Cognizant Classic - Final Round Mar 1, 2026 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament. Palm Beach Gardens Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xReinholdxMatayx 20260301_sns_mb4_00093
Koepka had been playing on LIV Golf since the summer of 2022 and was one of the league's biggest stars. He captained the Smash GC team and has won five individual events during his LIV tenure.
Koepka was the only LIV star to accept the Returning Member offer; DeChambeau, Rahm, and Smith stayed with LIV Golf for the 2026 season.
"It's been enjoyable. I know myself, my family, everybody's happy and excited to see what this next part is," he added during the press conference.
Rejoining the PGA field, he played the first round of the RBC Canadian Open with Nick Taylor, the crowd favorite from Canada and the winner of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.
Koepka's scorecard told the real story: eight birdies despite a shaky driving day.
Brooks Koepka at the 2026 RBC Canadian Open: Round One Breakdown
Koepka's 64 on Thursday came despite hitting only six of 14 fairways. He shared the first-round lead with Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns, Emiliano Grillo, and Eric Cole.
He was direct about the driving.
"It was just annoying. I just didn't follow through," he said. "There's certain holes where you can get away with it. The ones that I needed to hit the fairway on, I felt like I hit it on, which was obviously nice."
The wind at TPC Toronto made off-the-tee shots difficult.
"It wasn't heavy, but it was enough where you kind of get it to swirl, and you get in those trees," Koepka said.
Koepka withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge two weeks ago and arrived at the RBC Canadian Open rested. It is his fourth start at this event and first since 2019.
He currently ranks second in greens in regulation this season, on track for his highest such rank in a PGA Tour season.
Do you think Brooks Koepka can win the 2026 RBC Canadian Open? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Surjo Ray