TRENDING: Koepka and McIlroy Address Their “Rivalry”

When there are two players that appear to clearly be on top of their sport, everyone automatically assumes there has to be a rivalry between them. In golf, however, Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy are hoping to knock down that idea.

It’s pretty obvious that Koepka and McIlroy are at the top of the golf world currently, as both of them won a Player of the Year award, Koepka winning the USGA’s award and McIlroy winning the players’ vote. On top of that, the two are often neck and neck when competing for a major championship. That’s got all of the makings of a rivalry but neither player seems to be perpetuating that idea.

Koepka’s strategy is to just say that Rory isn’t relevant in his world.“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,” Koepka said. “I’m not looking at anybody behind me. I’m number one in the world. I’ve got open road in front of me I’m not looking in the rearview mirror, so I don’t see it as a rivalry. You know if the fans do, then that’s on them and it could be fun. Look, I love Rory he’s a great player and he’s fun to watch, but it’s just hard to believe there’s a rivalry in golf. I just don’t see it.”

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Comments like that could actually spark a rivalry with most people since Koepka is basically saying he’s well ahead of McIlroy on the golf course but Rory isn’t punching back. “I think that’s good for the game,” Rory said. “I think if you take what Brooks said out of context then obviously it can become this big thing that it’s become, but Brooks and I are good, we’re good friends and I’ve been really happy for him just to see how he’s played the last couple of years.”

While he was all cheery in that quote, McIlroy did say that he didn’t think it Brooks needed to remind him that he hasn’t won a major in a while. That could be changing, however, as McIlroy dominated throughout the entire year despite not winning a major, including beating Koepka out for the FedEx Cup and the biggest payday of any event on the PGA TOUR.

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While many people will read too far into these comments, it seems like neither player is really concerned about the other one. But if they end up battling it out on a few Sundays during next year’s majors, that rivalry could really start to shape itself moving forward.

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