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Brooks Koepka's take on Rory McIlroy not winning enough to be a rival is what golf needs
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/10/brooks-koepka-rory-mcilroy-rivalry-comments-great-for-golfBy: Andy Nesbitt | October 16, 2019 5:05 pm
Brooks Koepka was thought by many, including myself, to be such a bore after winning his first few major championships a few years ago. He never really let his personality shine through while talking with the media or and he rarely showed many emotions during big moments in his wins. He was pretty much a robot.
But boy has he done a complete 180 with his reputation over the past year or so, which is just great for professional golf.
His comments this about fellow PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy should only make him even more of a lightening rod/fan favorite because this man clearly doesn?t care at all about saying what he feels.
Koepka, the No. 1 player in the world right now, had this to say when asked about a rivalry with McIlroy, who stunningly edged out Koepka to win the 2019 Player of the Year award and is currently the No. 2 player in the 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 told AFP ahead of his defence of the CJ Cup in Jeju, South Korea which begins on Thursday.
?I?m not looking at anybody behind me,? said Koepka.
?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.?
Now that, as the cool kids on Twitter say, is the type of content I need directly in my veins.
Koepka is right about that major championship claim, as McIlroy hasn?t won one since the 2014 PGA Championship, which was his fourth major championship. Koepka also has four majors, including last year?s PGA Championship. He also finished in the top four in all the majors last year. So yeah, he?s a beast when it matters most.
The top of the PGA Tour, despite all the stars playing right now, can be a pretty bland place as more and more players seem content with collecting top 10s, or even 20s, and the big paydays that come along with that.
It has become easy for the big names to say the safe things that they think people want to hear, portray their fun and safe personalities on their social media, and make no real waves while touring the world and playing golf.
But now we have Koepka, the guy who hits it a mile and has become a force at a major championships, who just wants to crush everyone while practicing very little and caring about what he says even less.
Remember last season he hilariously showed up less than an hour before his final round of the St. Jude Classic, a PGA Tour playoff event, where he was paired with McIlroy, who had a two-stroke lead. Koepka then ran away with a three-stroke lead after a 5-under 65. McIlroy finished way back after a 1-over 71.
Koepka and McIlroy are the top two players in the world right now. Koepka is definitely the alpha in this pairing and hopefully this leads to more showdowns on big stages between these two. McIlroy, by the way, won the last one when he took home the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup last August when he was paired with Koepka in the final group on Sunday.
First golf had Jack vs Arnold. Then Tiger vs. Phil. And now we could have Brooks vs. Rory.
Golf needs a bad man, and Koepka seems more than willing to fulfill that role.
Which is just fantastic.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/10/brooks-koepka-rory-mcilroy-rivalry-comments-great-for-golfBy: Andy Nesbitt | October 16, 2019 5:05 pm
Brooks Koepka was thought by many, including myself, to be such a bore after winning his first few major championships a few years ago. He never really let his personality shine through while talking with the media or and he rarely showed many emotions during big moments in his wins. He was pretty much a robot.
But boy has he done a complete 180 with his reputation over the past year or so, which is just great for professional golf.
His comments this about fellow PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy should only make him even more of a lightening rod/fan favorite because this man clearly doesn?t care at all about saying what he feels.
Koepka, the No. 1 player in the world right now, had this to say when asked about a rivalry with McIlroy, who stunningly edged out Koepka to win the 2019 Player of the Year award and is currently the No. 2 player in the 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 told AFP ahead of his defence of the CJ Cup in Jeju, South Korea which begins on Thursday.
?I?m not looking at anybody behind me,? said Koepka.
?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.?
Now that, as the cool kids on Twitter say, is the type of content I need directly in my veins.
Koepka is right about that major championship claim, as McIlroy hasn?t won one since the 2014 PGA Championship, which was his fourth major championship. Koepka also has four majors, including last year?s PGA Championship. He also finished in the top four in all the majors last year. So yeah, he?s a beast when it matters most.
The top of the PGA Tour, despite all the stars playing right now, can be a pretty bland place as more and more players seem content with collecting top 10s, or even 20s, and the big paydays that come along with that.
It has become easy for the big names to say the safe things that they think people want to hear, portray their fun and safe personalities on their social media, and make no real waves while touring the world and playing golf.
But now we have Koepka, the guy who hits it a mile and has become a force at a major championships, who just wants to crush everyone while practicing very little and caring about what he says even less.
Remember last season he hilariously showed up less than an hour before his final round of the St. Jude Classic, a PGA Tour playoff event, where he was paired with McIlroy, who had a two-stroke lead. Koepka then ran away with a three-stroke lead after a 5-under 65. McIlroy finished way back after a 1-over 71.
Koepka and McIlroy are the top two players in the world right now. Koepka is definitely the alpha in this pairing and hopefully this leads to more showdowns on big stages between these two. McIlroy, by the way, won the last one when he took home the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup last August when he was paired with Koepka in the final group on Sunday.
First golf had Jack vs Arnold. Then Tiger vs. Phil. And now we could have Brooks vs. Rory.
Golf needs a bad man, and Koepka seems more than willing to fulfill that role.
Which is just fantastic.
