Brooks Koepka suggests Rory McIlroy double-standards in U.S. Open text interview

At the U.S. Open, Brooks Koepka chose to forgo media interviews after his opening round, sparking discussion about double standards in how he and Rory McIlroy are treated by the press. Koepka started strong, making three birdies in his first 10 holes, but his round took a downturn on the back nine with three bogeys in four holes, leaving him even par for the day.

While his fellow golfers engaged with the media post-round, Koepka opted out of the usual press conference and instead gave a candid ‘text interview’ to Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch. In this interview, Koepka voiced his frustration with what he saw as repetitive and uninspired questions from the media, suggesting that this was the real reason behind his decision to skip the interviews, rather than any lingering frustration.

When confronted with the notion that he was seeking sympathy, Koepka retorted: “That’s a stretch. Rory didn’t talk to media at LACC [in the 2023 U.S. Open] and everyone was saying 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.”

The conversation also highlighted that while McIlroy did not engage with the media after his first round at the 2023 U.S. Open, he did participate in interviews over the subsequent three days. McIlroy ultimately finished second in that tournament, behind Wyndham Clark. When asked if he planned to talk to the media in the remaining days of the U.S. Open, Koepka seemed to take a jab at McIlroy by responding: “If I feel like it, yeah. When you have five majors you can skip another day if ya want. LOL.” Koepka’s victory at last year’s PGA Championship brought his total major wins to five, surpassing McIlroy’s four.

On the opening day of the current U.S. Open, while Koepka finished with a respectable score, McIlroy excelled, completing the round bogey-free at five-under, tying for the lead with Patrick Cantlay. McIlroy’s round included a string of back-to-back birdies and a remarkable finish at the 18th hole, leaving him in a strong position early in the tournament.