Brooks Koepka bemoaned the double-standards held by the media against him compared to Rory McIlroy – before firing a thinly-veiled shot at the world No. 3.
At the U.S. Open, Koepka flew out the blocks with three birdies through the opening 10 holes. However, his first round unravelled on the back-nine, with the five-time major champion posting three bogeys in four holes to finish even heading into the second round.
As his colleagues and rivals all spoke to the media after their rounds, Koepka decided to go against the grain. He declined his media interview requests, instead opting to engage in a ‘text interview’ with Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch, who posted the ‘forthright, combative, and unfiltered’ words in an article.
Koepka suggested the lack of creative and ultimately repetitive questions – rather than a lingering sense of frustration – contributed to his decision. When it was suggested he was ‘asking for a pity party’, Koepka hit back: “That’s a stretch. Rory didn’t talk to media at LACC [in the 2023 U.S. Open] and everyone was talking how it’s because he wants to focus.
“The second I do it, I’m mad at media, which isn’t true. I just didn’t want to do it. But my narrative will be I’m mad at media.”
Later in the exchange, it was put to Koepka that while McIlroy didn’t do a press conference or post-round interview after round one at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, the Northern Irishman did speak the last three days. McIlroy went on to finish second behind Wyndham Clark, who clinched his first major title.
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Brooks Koepka is five shots off co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay
Asked if he will speak to media in the final three days, Koepka appeared to take a shot at McIlroy by writing: “If I feel like it, yeah. When you have five majors you can skip another day if ya want. LOL.”
Koepka’s win at the PGA Championship last year ensured he moved ahead of McIlroy’s tally of four. While Koepka posted a ‘fine’ score on Thursday, McIlroy went bogey-free to finish five-under and seize the lead alongside Patrick Cantlay.
After navigating the first three holes at even par, the four-time major champion scored back-to-back birdies to move up the leaderboard early. McIlroy added another three birdies on the back nine, including a sensational end to the round at 18 which he appeared to walk off.
Koepka is due to tee off alongside Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, McIlroy will tee off with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele as part of the earlier wave of groups in the morning.
