Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Koepka takes a swing at Rory ‘HE HASN’T WON A MAJOR FOR FIVE YEARS, I DON’T VIEW IT AS A RIVALRY’
BROOKS KOEPKA aimed a swipe at Rory Mcilroy’s attempts to fuel a rivalry between them by saying: “He hasn’t won a Major for five years.”
World No.1 Koepka was dismissive of the Northern Irishman’s claim that their duel for the crown as best golfer on the planet was rooted in fierce competition.
Mcilroy revealed he resorted to a grudge mentality to help him clinch the Fedex Cup at East Lake in August.
And after being voted PGA Tour player of the year, he said: “Koepka talked about trying to be the dominant player in the game. I thought, ‘He’s going to have to go through me first’.
“If that’s both of our mentalities going forward, I think it’s good for the game.”
But Koepka (above, with Rory), who has won four Majors since 2017, was having none of Mcilroy’s mind games as he prepared to defend the CJ Cup in South Korea.
The American does not regard the world No.2 as a deadly rival in the same vein as Ali and Frazier in boxing, the Yankees and Red Sox in PGA Championship: 2018, 2019 US Open: 2017, 2018
PGA Championship: 2012, 2014 US Open: 2011
The Open: 2014 baseball or Senna and Prost on the Formula One track.
Koepka said: “I’ve been out here for what, five years – and Rory hasn’t won a Major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour, so I just don’t view it as a rivalry. I’m No.1 in the world, I’ve got an open road in front of me and I’m not looking in the rear-view mirror.
“You know, if the fans do call it a rivalry, that’s on them – and it could be fun. I love Rory, he’s a great player and fun to watch, but it’s hard to believe there’s a rivalry in golf. I just don’t see it.”
Mcilroy was surprised to be voted player of the year after Koepka equalled his four Major titles at the PGA Championship. “But the other players thought differently,” he added.