Nope, Brooks Koepka wasn’t showing up Rory McIlroy when he told Agence France Press on the eve of the CJ Cup in South Korea that he doesn’t have a rival. True, he’s World Number One, with his buddy right next to him in the rankings. True, they both won three events in the 2018–19 season. And, true, they split the sport’s Player of the Year awards. Nonetheless, he’s in good position to contend that he’s really competing against, well, himself when he has a club in his hand. “I’m not looking at anybody behind me,” he noted. “I’ve got open road in front of me. I’m not looking in the rearview mirror, so I don’t see … a rivalry.”
Perhaps Koepka did tinge his statements with pride, which, given his stoic demeanor, could have been construed as an exercise in conceit. He certainly has the right to harp on his accomplishments, among them four major titles in the last three years. And while he may have bragged, however subtly, he did add context to his perspective. “You know, if the fans do [consider it a rivalry], then that’s on them and it could be fun,” he said. “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.”
Creditably, McIlroy chose to look at the bright side and take Koepka’s pronouncements in stride. “What Brooks said wasn’t wrong,” he argued on the occasion of The Challenge: Japan Skins yesterday. “He’s been the best player in the world for the last couple of years. Four majors … I see where he’s coming from.” And, no doubt, his perspective stems from their friendship. “I love Brooks. He’s a great guy. He’s super competitive like we all are,” he said, although he did acknowledge not needing to be reminded “that I haven’t won one [major] in a while.”
To be sure, both Koepka and McIlroy will view the inevitable public scrutiny as fuel for success. In this regard, they’re bound to push each other to greater heights. Greatness, after all, begets greatness. And whether they admit it or not, they’re rivals.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
