Brooks Koepka will compete against Rory McIlroy and a host of other top players at The Masters as they both search for their first green jacket win at Augusta National.
Brooks Koepka discussed his connection with Rory McIlroy, stating that they have engaged in productive conversations.
While they weren’t very close at first, especially when competing against each other on the PGA Tour, they have developed a friendship in recent years. In a recent conversation on the most recent episode of ‘Warming Up in partnership with Golf.com, Koepka mentioned that the Northern Irishman is a player he enjoys joking around with.
“Rory’s a great guy,” he mentioned. “We’ve had some great conversations. We share some good laughs because with everything happening in golf, sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh. The interesting part is, we do that even when there’s nobody else around.
If I ever feel like having a conversation with someone, I can always head over to Grove [XXIII, their course in South Florida]. It’s a peaceful place where I know there won’t be anyone else around, except for Rory and me. Whenever either of us has something to say, we just pop over to each other and have a nice chat. It’s great to have a neighbor like Rory, especially since we’re the only ones in South Florida who have won four or more majors, following Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Koepka and McIlroy had contrasting opinions about the LIV Golf circuit, which Koepka became a part of in June 2022. Initially, McIlroy strongly opposed the breakaway tour, but his stance has softened over time regarding the Saudi-backed league. Koepka admires McIlroy as a role model and draws inspiration from him during his early years in the golfing world, especially when McIlroy was achieving major victories in the early 2010s.
During my early years in the golfing scene, particularly from 2012 to 2016, I held a certain level of admiration for him. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I idolized him, as that would be an exaggeration. However, I did look up to him to some extent,” Koepka expressed. “During that period, he was working his way up through the Challenge Tour and DP World Tour, eventually making his mark on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, McIlroy was solidifying his position as a multiple major champion.
“I was trying to understand his approach,” Koepka continued. “One thing I excelled at was selecting role models like Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, and Rory, especially considering how well Rory was performing at the time. It was a matter of observing and incorporating certain aspects from each of these individuals into my own game.”
Over the years, our friendship has blossomed. I’ve had a great time playing alongside him and even competing against him. I’m confident he feels the same way. It’s just so much fun, you know? We train together, live in the same neighborhood. It’s hard not to enjoy each other’s company. By the way, did you know that both McIlroy and Koepka will be vying for The Masters title in 2024? It’s an exciting opportunity for both of them as they strive to secure their first victory at this prestigious event.
In 2023, the American golfer secured a position behind the victorious Jon Rahm, while in 2019, he came in second place to Woods, who triumphed with his 15th major title. When questioned about his prospects of achieving success at Augusta, Koepka expressed uncertainty, stating that the chances were quite favorable considering the presence of numerous talented players. However, he admitted not being aware of the exact number of participants in the field, estimating it to be around 90, with this year’s count being 88. Consequently, he speculated that his likelihood of triumph might be approximately 15%.
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