McIlroy plays down Koepka spat

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlory says he and Brooks Koepka remain good friends and he has played down any reports of a ‘spat’. The American grabbed the headlines earlier this month when he said he and McIlroy were not rivals due to his lack of majors. Both men have lifted four major titles in their careers, but McIlroy’s last came in 2014, while Koepka has won all of his since 2017. Koepka’s comments could have caused some tension between the two best players in the world, but McIlroy says he agrees with them. He told reporters: “What Brooks (Koepka) said wasn’t wrong. I mean, he’s been the best player in the world the last couple years – four majors. I don’t think he had to remind me that I haven’t won one in a while. “I love Brooks, he’s a great guy. Obviously super-competitive, like we all are. I can see where he’s coming from. “I think if you take what Brooks said out of context, then it can become this big thing that it’s become. But Brooks and I are good, we’re good friends.”