Taken from Brooks Koepka’s comeback, the LPGA is off to a poor start

Come in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @igalofu_com. This week, we discuss the poor LPGA start, Brooks Koepka’s comeback and Justin Rose’s dominant win.

The LPGA Tour opened its 2026 season with the Championship at unseasonably cold Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Fla., and Nelly Korda was named the winner after the event was shortened to 54 holes (eight players finished their third rounds Sunday after weather delayed the third round). The LPGA told reporters on site that the weather (temperatures in the low 30s, and wind) did not create a “proper environment for professional competition,” although the pros in the pro-am event still played nine holes on Sunday. One of them, Annika Sorenstam, called the course “very playable.” Any problem with this being shortened to 54 holes?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I feel for the LPGA, because this is one of those “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” circumstances. But I think that whenever things happen shut up to be playable, tours must select 72-hole events. The mojo of the event has been completely changed, if not ruined, by the decision to remove 25 percent of it, and I’m not sure that the conditions in Orlando allow for a big change.

Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): I don’t understand how this was the best choice. You know what’s fun about golf? The fact that it has never been a “perfect place.” It was great to watch Nelly Korda climb the leaderboard on Saturday – partly because she played so well under the right conditions. It would be a huge win for the league to show Korda taking the elements (and the rest of the field) on Sunday or Monday if needed; instead we are left in a strange limbo as the league handed its superstar what should have been a miracle victory.

Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): It seems like this was your incredible goal on the part of the LPGA. Not just because they chose not to have a cold day on Sunday or to play in a warm but cold place on Monday. But they could have increased the times on Friday and Saturday and grouped the players together instead of having ams so that the players played under the same conditions – Nelly’s round on Saturday was good, but he also went well ahead of the leaders and got some really bad stuff on the last two holes. Since the LPGA does not play against it until Feb. 19, I find it hard to believe that he couldn’t find a way to get another 18 holes and show their biggest draw that snaps his undefeated drought in an amazing way. It would be a huge win for the LPGA for Nelly to win like this in week 1. Instead, we found a “proper competitive environment” and Annika wonders why they aren’t playing. Confusing things.

Six-time LPGA Tour Danielle Kang commented on social media that reducing rounds to 54 holes due to bad weather seems to be the LPGA’s first option, while on the PGA Tour it seems to be a last resort. Do you think there is any truth to that? And why?

Colgan: It certainly does to hear as it is, but by my count, Sunday was the third time since 2022 that the LPGA shortened from 72 holes to 54. The PGA Tour has done so once in that time (Wyndham Clark’s Pebble Beach win in ’24). Yes, mathematically that makes the LPGA also shorten the event by three times, but it’s not an epidemic.

Dethier: Look, I know it’s not their first choice. I know they want the best in the league. I am happy with the LPGA track. It just sounds to me like they had to do everything they could to make it work, snow be damned.

Scrock: It’s not their first choice, but narrowing it down to 54 holes the way they did and with a soft definition is pretty bad looking. They should feel like they could find a way to get to the final round. There was no snow delay and strong winds from Saturday are not expected to return. Monday will be cold but fun. Let’s see who can win. That’s the fun part of golf!

LIV-turned-PGA Tour golfer Brooks Koepka returned to the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, making the rounds in the media and even jumping into the broadcast before finishing T56. What did you think of his week and the reception?

Colgan: I was surprised at how vulnerable he seemed in his conversations and participation in the lesson. In most of Koepka’s interactions with the public over the past five years, he has appeared somewhere between combat and combat. This week was quite the opposite. I think it will take some time before I am perfect buy a “changed person” narrative — but it’s something I’m wary of.

Dethier: I’m wary of overdoing anything Brooks. Nevertheless, he was welcomed as a victorious hero. He sounded humble and grateful and did extensive media coverage before the tournament and after each round, even sitting on the CBS broadcast on Saturday and Sunday. Also, his golf swing looked great. Tee to green he was competitive. He was nervous about the putter, but there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Scrock: I agree with James and Dylan that we should tread carefully when psychoanalyzing Brooks. We will see if Koepka, who seemed to be really happy and grateful to be back, said that Koepka has really “grown up” after returning to LIV. But my biggest takeaway was that a young man who couldn’t be bothered with the normal events of the PGA Tour seemed to be enjoying his return, enjoying time with his family and relishing the opportunity to be the first guy to cross the bridge. It was cool to see him back. His placement was terrible. Hopefully he can find his way into contention soon.

Speaking of LIV defectors, Patrick Reed announced Wednesday that he is leaving LIV and will be eligible to rejoin the PGA Tour in the fall of 2026. Big news for the Tour, or worst for LIV Golf?

Colgan: Too bad for LIV, if only because name value is the currency of the sport, and Reed’s departure removes one familiar name from LIV’s arenas.

Dethier: Too bad for LIV. One quote Reed gave to ESPN explains why: “After a win [on the DP World Tour last week]I realized how much I missed grinding and fighting; it’s who I am,” he said. The implication is very clear. For Reed, established golf courses offer something that LIV did not. His decision to return is a difficult issue to argue against.

Scrock: Worst of LIV. Now they have lost two of the six names they have that actually register. LIV built on buying names and two of those have gone. Combined with reports that PIF is tightening its belt and that’s two consecutive blows to LIV.

LIV Golf begins its season this coming week in Saudi Arabia, albeit without Koepka, who has accepted the PGA Tour’s request to return through the newly created Returning Member Program. The application window ends on Feb. 2, and right now it seems unlikely that only the other eligible players (Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith) will turn. Given that Koepka may be the only one to return, has new CEO Brian Rolapp’s plan been a success?

Colgan: Uh, it wouldn’t be a failure if it were there is no he rejoined the Tour. The big conversation over the last three years is getting the top players back together. The Tour has now explained very clearly what that path looks like. Adding two previous major winners (including one willing to endure an eight-month suspension)? That’s just a bonus.

Dethier: Koepka’s decision to return is a big win for the Tour. Reed’s decision to return is the same. These guys pay to play on the PGA Tour; that’s a narrative win. Rolapp deserves a ton of credit, but so do those around him; this is a reimagined adventure that thinks bigger and better and this time, it really shows.

Scrock: There’s no better way to celebrate than a big win on the PGA Tour. They brought back two big names, both big champions and sensationalists, and had both agree to punishments – in Reed’s case an eight-month suspension – to return. Rolapp’s absence from the past has freed the Tour to do what previously seemed impossible under the previous leadership. The response and the inclusion of Koepka’s comeback showed how big a victory this was for the PGA Tour. Reed’s return and doing so after eight months of exile is chilling.

Justin Rose won the Farmers on Sunday, going TK-shot at Torrey Pines for his 13th career PGA Tour win. At 45 years old – and holding an Olympic gold and a US Open title – does Rose get enough credit for being one of the sport’s most consistent players? How are you still doing?

Colgan: When Rose faded in time at the 2024 Open, I remember wondering if the “Indian Summer” chapter of his career was over. I was impressed by his performance then, and it impresses me even more today. Rose is one of the most impressive golf geniuses and decent guys of all time – he deserves the love he gets.

Dethier: Rose continues to write new chapters and my beauty was the most impressive. Rose smashes drives; he’s up a few miles per hour on the ball’s velocity last season, looking and playing like a young man. He led the phone to the phone. Tiger Woods’ scoring record for Torrey Pines. It won by seven. He looked like he was literally dominating the entire tournament. Now he has reached number 3 in the world, which is unthinkable. An inspiring game from an inspiring player.

Scrock: It’s probably the best story going in professional golf right now. There is nothing better than an old man who does not want to give Father Time what he wants to take away from you. That he is arguably an even better player now than he was when he was World No. 1 talks about his talent, drive and commitment to his work and his body. At the Open, he said losing the Masters to Rory didn’t hurt as much as you would think because he told him that he can still make it to the big stages if he is facing the best players in the world. It didn’t sound like the guy’s “Indian summer” was ending and now he’s won two of his six starts and continues to be a Ryder Cup killer. A tip of the cap.