Sports
Brooks Koepka nervous, excited for 'fresh start' on PGA Tour
Dec 18, 2025; Greenbrier, West Virginia, USA; Brooks Koepka on the 5th hole at The Old White at the Greenbrier. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Brooks Koepka had the guile to win nine times on the PGA Tour and the savvy to win five major tournaments and yet it was a chair and a microphone Tuesday that brought the nerves of an 8-foot putt at 18 on Sunday with the trophy on the line.
Mostly straight-faced and humble, Koepka admitted that he still is not sure how his presence in PGA Tour events after four years with LIV Golf will be received, but the text messages and in-person well wishes have been reassuring.
And yet there is the presence of those around the game he does not know as well that has Koepka on edge the most.
Tuesday’s press conference ahead of Koepka’s return event, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., brought apprehension.
Another moment of uncertainty arrives Thursday when Koepka plays in front of a gallery during the first round.
“Maybe I’m a little nervous about that as well just to see how, I guess, how the fans respond to it,” Koepka said, after his return was announced earlier this month. “I hope that they’re excited. I hope that they’re happy that I’m out here. You know, hopefully that goes, at least like the conversations I’ve had with players that they’re excited that I’m back and happy to see me play.”
Swinging his clubs, for what he hopes is four rounds on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean might be the easiest part of Koepka’s week.
Unlike his time at LIV, when he was on a reported $100 million contract that was in addition to any prize money he earned, his play from week-to-week on the PGA Tour will make a difference. Koepka will have to earn his way into the tour’s signature events like Pebble Beach and The Genesis in Los Angeles, both next month.
For now, he is committed to playing this week and next week at the WM Phoenix Open. On Tuesday, he added the Feb. 26-March 1 Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to his schedule.
“That’s the fun part, I love the grind, I’ve always enjoyed it,” said Koepka, who has a goal of winning at least one tournament this year. “I guess it’s a fresh start for me, which is cool. It’s just another chapter I guess in my book. I’m excited for that.
“I feel like my game’s in pretty good shape, and I want to see where it’s at. Obviously, this week is a little bit different. But yeah, I would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again. I’m super excited.”
Asked multiple times what inspired his move back to the PGA Tour now, with another year left on his LIV deal, Koepka, 35, said it was family related, without going into specifics.
He did say the impetus for a return started in September, around the time of the Ryder Cup. On Oct. 6, Koepka’s wife, Jenna Sims, revealed on social media she had a miscarriage.
“Circumstances kind of changed in my family a little bit,” Koepka said. “Then that’s when I guess things started to change and evolve and just started to have those conversations of what’s best for my family. So we took it from there. … (LIV) understood the situation that I was in.”
Koepka said his first call went to Tiger Woods about starting the process to play on the PGA Tour again. The next call went to commissioner Jay Monahan.
“I felt like Tiger was somebody that I’ve relied on in the past for questions and answers and how to deal with things and I felt like that was maybe the most comfortable call for me,” Koepka said.
The PGA Tour came up with a Returning Members Program that was revealed earlier this month and said that former tour members who have won a major tournament or The Players Championship since 2022 can return under further parameters.
It left Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith as the only players who could immediately return by a Feb. 2 deadline. DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith eventually reinforced their commitment to LIV.
Koepka has no regrets about the path he chose and said he has grown as a person following the birth of his son Crew, who will turn 3 in July.
His family will be in attendance in the San Diego area this week and again in the Phoenix area next week. Seeing consecutive tournaments while he was a member of LIV Golf would have been challenging for his family.
“I think as everybody in this room goes through phases in life and that’s kind of the phase I’m in now, is trying to make sure I set a good example for (Crew) and do what’s best for my family,” Koepka said.
On the course, he has inspiration from another competitor, who is also a new father.
“I know sometimes when your mind’s free, I think you look at Scottie (Scheffler) right now, sometimes it’s easier to go play golf and play your best,” Koepka said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
'Frustrated' Blue Jays eager to reverse course vs. Rays
Jul 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) argues with home plate umpire Jen Pawol (95) during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images The Toronto Blue Jays will be out to salvage what they can from a guaranteed losing homestand Wednesday night when they continue their series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Blue Jays dropped to 1-4 on their seven-game homestand with a 12-2 setback to the Rays on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay is 7-1 against Toronto this season to clinch the season series.
While the Rays sit atop the American League East, the Blue Jays are last in the division, with their hopes of a wild-card spot fading.
“I think everyone is frustrated,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “There’s no secret, this is not going to be easy. It’s going to be hard. You just want to find some small wins for one, and two, you just make sure everyone understands that this is going to be hard and you’ve got to dig your way out of this.”
The Blue Jays have only eight runs over their first five games since returning from the All-Star break.
After the Rays scored three runs in the first inning Tuesday against Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays failed to score against Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the inning despite loading the bases with one out. That is a microcosm of Toronto’s season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 0-for-4 on Tuesday and is in an 0-for-13 funk in a disappointing season. The Rays’ pitchers have been tough on Guerrero this season, holding him at 2-for-27.
The Blue Jays’ defense also has been a problem against the Rays. Toronto has committed five errors over the two games of the four-game series.
That number could have been higher. One error call on Tuesday — third baseman Kazuma Okamoto on Nick Fortes’ grounder in the seventh — was changed to a hit.
Schneider said the fielding mistakes are more a result of the Rays’ style than his team pressing.
“This team really plays the game fast,” Schneider said of Tampa Bay. “I don’t think that it’s us playing tight. I think it’s them forcing the issue.”
The Rays also have been hitting for power in the series. They had three homers on Monday. Fortes, who went deep in his second consecutive contest, joined Yandy Diaz — who was playing in his 1,000th MLB game — by belting a three-run homer on Tuesday.
“That’s pretty special to play 1,000 games at this level, and he’s done it at an incredibly high level,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Diaz. “I appreciate Yandy, certainly the hitter he is, the way he’s evolved as a teammate, as a leader on this team, the energy that he provides on a daily basis, and the way he carries himself is really special.”
Chandler Simpson and Ben Williamson each had four hits for Tampa Bay, and Junior Caminero had two hits and three walks. The Rays had a season-best 21 hits.
“It just attests to everything that we can do in the lineup,” Simpson said. “We can win it with speed, put the bat on the ball. We can also use the power game as well to win games.”
The Blue Jays will go with an opener on Wednesday, with right-handed reliever Braydon Fisher (3-3, 3.65 ERA) getting the call. In 10 career relief appearances against the Rays, he is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA.
Right-hander Griffin Jax (5-7, 4.08) is Tampa Bay’s scheduled starter on Wednesday. He is 1-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 17 career games (two starts) against Toronto.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Martin Perez returns for Braves, to pitch against Padres
Jun 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez (33) throws against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Veteran Martin Perez will come off the injured list to take his spot in the starting rotation when the Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
The Padres beat the Braves 8-3 on Tuesday to even the four-game series at a game apiece. San Diego has won four of five games against the Braves on the season.
Perez went on the injured list after being hit in the arm by a line drive by Juan Soto of the New York Mets on July 5. He threw a bullpen session on Sunday and was deemed ready to return.
“He rebounded well,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. “To be honest, it’s not a terrible thing that he got a little break. Threw 50 innings last year, so I think probably good timing there if there is such a thing for something like that. Chances are he was going to need a break at some point this year anyway.”
Left-hander Perez (6-6, 3.54) will face off against San Diego right-hander Michael King (6-7, 3.34). Perez has thrown 81 1/3 innings this season.
Perez made his last start against the Mets on July 5 and allowed five runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings. He had to leave the game after absorbing the line drive off his left forearm. X-rays showed no broken bones, but it was severe enough to require a trip to the injured list.
Perez has never beaten San Diego. In four career appearances (three starts), he is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA. He lost to the Padres on June 24 when he pitched four innings and allowed three runs on four hits and four walks.
King received no decision in his most recent start on Friday against the Kansas City Royals, a 7-6 loss in 10 innings. He pitched five innings and allowed one run on four hits and two walks, striking out four. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 20 starts.
King has made three career appearances against the Braves, going 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA. He beat Atlanta 1-0 on June 22 in San Diego when he threw seven scoreless innings.
The Padres continue to tinker with the lineup. On Tuesday they batted struggling veteran Xander Bogaerts No. 8 in the lineup, something he has done just 48 times in 1,761 career games. He went 1-for-4 and was robbed of a home run by Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II.
“We’re taking a little bit of the pressure off Bogey,” manager Craig Stammen said. “That’s probably the biggest thing. We’ve got to get him going somehow. Thought moving him up in the lineup might get him going. He’s still taking good at-bats.”
Bogaerts said, “What can I say? Play better.”
Manny Machado doesn’t have that problem. He has homered three times in the series and has hit safely in 12 straight games. During the streak he has five homers, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored, and he has raised his average from .187 to .204.
The Atlanta offense, which entered the series having scored five-plus runs in nine consecutive home games, was limited to four hits for the second straight game. Two of those came from rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis.
The Braves released veteran designated hitter Kyle Farmer, an Atlanta native, on Tuesday when they activated outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. Farmer appeared in only 12 games and went on the injured list in May with a right forearm strain. He made two brief appearances after his return earlier this month.
Yastrzemski was on the 10-day injured list due to an elbow ailment.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With Michael Conforto waiting, Cubs vie to take rubber game from Tigers
Jul 21, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs designated hitter Michael Conforto (20) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs have been getting instant offense off the bench from Michael Conforto, who hit his MLB-leading fourth pinch-hit home run of the season in an 11-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Conforto is an outfielder by trade but has had to carve out a bench role because Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki are entrenched as starters.
Conforto already has tied the franchise single-season record for pinch-hit homers, set by Glenallen Hill in 1999, and hopes to be involved in the decisive contest of a three-game series against visiting Detroit on Wednesday night.
“All year, it feels like (Michael’s) biggest hits have been pinch hits,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t know if there’s any blueprint for it, but Michael has done a fabulous job at it. You feel like it’s a real weapon to have somebody like that.”
Wednesday’s matchup will be the rubber game of the series after Detroit won 8-6 in 10 innings on Monday and the Cubs took Tuesday’s game.
Colin Rea (7-6, 4.74 ERA) will start for Chicago on Wednesday. The right-hander snapped a two-start winning streak in his last appearance on Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) in six innings as the Cubs lost 5-2 to Minnesota.
Rea is 0-1 with a lifetime 6.43 ERA vs. Detroit in three appearances (one start).
Right-hander Keider Montero (6-5, 3.22 ERA) will start for Detroit on Wednesday. He has been used as a reliever throughout July after making starts in 15 of his first 16 appearances this season, but Montero is moving back into the rotation.
He got a win in his most recent outing, tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief as the Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Friday.
Montero has faced the Cubs once, on June 7, 2025. Serving as the bulk reliever on a bullpen day, he gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings and didn’t figure into the decision.
Montero has gone an inning-plus in every relief appearance he’s made this month. A versatile pitcher such as Montero gives Detroit manager A.J. Hinch extra flexibility as the team is in a stretch of playing 13 games in 13 days.
“I’ve always said when I pitch (Montero), I’m going to pitch him a lot,” Hinch told the Detroit Free Press.
“When you see him go out for a second inning or a third inning or a fourth inning, part of that is competitive and strategic. The other part of it is to keep him stretched out to where it doesn’t disrupt his volume.”
Montero’s ability to ease back into the rotation quickly took on even greater importance after the Tigers were forced to place Jack Flaherty (right flexor inflammation) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. Flaherty reported discomfort after throwing four innings in the series opener the day before.
Hinch explained the decision to put Flaherty on the IL after Tuesday’s game.
“It wasn’t a clear-cut IL (decision) when we woke up this morning,” Hinch told reporters. “And then as the day went on and the more opinion we got, the more we realized he wasn’t going to pitch in five or six days.”
Flaherty has made 19 starts for Detroit this season, going 3-8 with a 4.59 ERA.
–Field Level Media
'Frustrated' Blue Jays eager to reverse course vs. Rays
Martin Perez returns for Braves, to pitch against Padres
