Brooks Koepka Joins Cognizant Classic Field as PGA Tour Swing Starts in Florida

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The Florida Swing is underway, with the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens kicking off the four-week stretch in the Sunshine State before the Masters. While the field lacks many of the game's top players, most eyes will be on Brooks Koepka, the former LIV Golf captain who rejoined the PGA Tour last month as part of a 'Returning Member Program.' Koepka, ranked 257th in the world, is making his third start since rejoining the tour.

Why it matters

Koepka's return to the PGA Tour is a significant development, as the four-time major champion was one of the highest-profile defectors to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. His inclusion in the Cognizant Classic field will draw extra attention to the event and the start of the Florida Swing, which serves as a crucial lead-up to the Masters.

The details

Koepka's first two starts since rejoining the PGA Tour were a T56 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open and a missed cut at the WM Phoenix Open. Now, he'll get a home game of sorts, as many tour pros live in South Florida. The Champion course at PGA National, host of the Cognizant Classic, was taken apart by the pros last year, with Jake Knapp firing a first-round 59 and Joe Highsmith winning with a tournament-record 19-under-par score.

• The Cognizant Classic is the first event of the Florida Swing, which leads into the Masters in April.
• Koepka rejoined the PGA Tour last month as part of a 'Returning Member Program.'

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