Ace golfers not at loggerheads
Chiba – Rory McIlroy (above) says things are “all good” with American Brooks Koepka – but the Northern Irishman doesn’t need a reminder that he hasn’t won a major in five years.
World No 1 Koepka made worldwide headlines at the CJ Cup in South Korea last week after scotching the notion of a burgeoning rivalry with second-ranked McIlroy.
“What Brooks said wasn’t wrong,” McIlroy told the Golf Channel during an exhibition match at Narashino Country Club, venue for this week’s Zozo Championship in Japan.
McIlroy was responding after the American told AFP in an exclusive interview: “I’ve been out here for, what, five years. Rory hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour. So I just don’t view it as a rivalry.”
McIlroy’s response was measured.
“He’s been the best player for a couple years, four majors. I don’t think he had to remind me I hadn’t won one in a while, but you know,” McIlroy smiled.
“But no, I love Brooks. He’s a great guy. Obviously super competitive, like we all are.
“I can see where he’s coming from. You know, we were out here. We can’t control anyone else. We just have to play our own golf.
“Brooks and I are good. We’re good friends. I’ve been really happy for him to see how good he’s played the last couple of years.”
The pair have been, by some distance, ahead of their peers this year, so anytime they go head to head is going have some added spice – and, like it or not, fans love a rivalry.
Each won three times last season, Koepka retained his US PGA Championship while McIlroy became only the second player after Tiger Woods to win multiple Fedex Cups.
Each has four majors, though current US PGA champion Koepka’s all came in the space of two calendar years, while McIlroy’s last was the 2014 Open Championship at Hoylake.
McIlroy, 30, admitted Koepka, 29, “dusted him” over the final round to win the WGC-FedEx St Jude Championship. A month later, he cited a “rivalry mentality” to take his revenge over the last 18 holes at East Lake to win the Tour Championship, the FedEx Cup and a $15 million (R220 million) pot.
The pair were due to face each other at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai next week, but Koepka’s withdrawal from the CJ Cup in Jeju with a knee injury may put that in jeopardy. – AFP