Brooks Koepka says Rory McIlroy's recent major success has fired him up to compete, admitting it's annoying to trail his rival's six major titles

Brooks Koepka admitted Rory McIlroy’s latest major success has fired him up – and he wants to beat the "c---" out of him.

Koepka joined LIV Golf in June 2022 and then earned the 2023 PGA Championship title at Oak Hill Country Club. McIlroy’s major success recently has been notable, with the 37-year-old winning back-to-back Masters. With six major victories, including his landmark career grand slam at the 2025, the Northern Ireland native now holds a one-title edge over Koepka, who has five major titles. Scheffler remains close behind with four.

“It is annoying. It feels like I have let a few years of my career slip by, especially the last few,” Koepka told Dan Rapaport.

Upon returning to the PGA Tour as LIV Golf faces an uncertain future, Koepka reflected that he was falling back in love with the game.

“It motivates me,” Koepka continued, referring to McIlroy’s success. “I am happy for him because he deserves it. I think he is one of the best players to ever play the game.”

Since earning the career grand slam, McIlroy has been open regarding his drive to find better work/life balance, as he cut down his schedule this year.

“It is cool to see but I also want to beat the c--- out of him and I am sure he feels the exact same way,” said 36-year-old Koepka.

“It has been enjoyable and maybe me getting five majors pushed him to knuckle down and go after it. Props to him.”

Koepka finished as a runner-up twice at the Masters, but he has not yet won a Green Jacket or an Open Championship title. The 36-year-old golfer also suggested that his fifth major title likely served as a catalyst for McIlroy when both were tied at four titles.

“It’s been enjoyable,” Koepka remarked. “I think in some way, once I reached five majors while he was still at four, it probably spurred him to think, ‘All right, I need to really lock in and pursue what I want’.”