Brooks Koepka: Rory McIlroy hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour

The world number one insisted he doesn’t see himself having any ‘rivalry’ with the Northern Irishman

Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy at the Tour Championship (Getty)

World number one and four-time major champion Brooks Koepka dismissed the possibility of having any rivalry with Rory McIlroy, claiming “he hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour”.

McIlroy’s last major victory came at the 2014 US PGA Championship, while Koepka was still hopping between Kenya and Kazakhstan on the European Tour.

Koepka has won four majors in the last three seasons, including the PGA Championship this year, but was pipped by the Northern Irishman to the player of the year award – voted for by fellow professionals.

McIlroy picked up three victories this year, including at The Players Championship and Tour Championship, but failed to seriously contend at the majors.

“I’ve been out here for, what, five years,” Koepka told AFP. “Rory hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour. So I just don’t view it as a rivalry.”

McIlroy stoked talks of an opposition between the pair after victory at East Lake at the end of August, however, he did admit to being surprised at winning the season-ending award.

“He (Koepka) talked about trying to be the dominant player in the game ... and I thought: ‘He’s going to have to go through me first’,” McIlroy said.

“If that’s both of our mentalities going forward, I think that’s good for the game.”

“I thought maybe Brooks winning the PGA Championship this year was going to be the difference-maker, but you know, the other players thought differently.”

‘I’m not looking at anybody behind me’ (Getty)

However, Koepka insisted that he isn’t “looking in the rearview mirror”.

“I’m not looking at anybody behind me,” he said. ”I’m No 1 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 [call it a rivalry], 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.”