Rory McIlroy Responds To Brooks Koepka's Rivalry Comments

Koepka said that he and McIlroy have no rivalry...what did McIlroy say back?

Rory McIlroy Responds To Brooks Koepka's Rivalry Comments
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Koepka said that he and McIlroy have no rivalry...what did McIlroy say back?

Rory McIlroy Responds To Brooks Koepka's Rivalry Comments

Brooks Koepka shook the golfing world last week when he said that he doesn't see a rivalry between he and Rory McIlroy because the Northern Irishman hasn't won a Major since Koepka joined the PGA Tour.

The comments made headlines across the world and left us all with bated breath to see what Rory McIlroy would respond with this week.

McIlroy is competing at the Zozo Championship this week in Japan and also played in a skins match earlier on Monday.

It was during the skins match where he was asked about Brooks Koepka's comments and McIlroy was very polite and complimentary of his American counterpart.

“What Brooks said wasn’t wrong," McIlroy said.

"He’s been the best player in the world the last couple of years, four majors.

“I don’t think he had to remind me that I hadn’t won one in a while but I love Brooks, he’s a great guy, obviously super competitive like we all are.

“If you take what Brooks said out of context then obviously it can become this big thing it has become but Brooks and I are good, we are good friends and I’ve been really happy for him to see how good he has played over the last couple of years.”

The pair are ranked first and second in the Official World Golf Ranking, although McIlroy will get the chance to close the gap on Koepka this week in Japan and over the next few weeks too.

That's because Brooks Koepka is currently sidelined with a knee injury, after pulling out of the CJ Cup at the weekend.

Koepka had an operation on his knee after the Tour Championship and it obviously isn't quite right just yet.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV