PGA Championship: Brooks Koepka confident of winning at least 10 majors
Koepka not scared of Tiger Woods: "What's the point in fearing anybody? We're not fighting, He's not going to hurt me."
Tuesday 14 May 2019 20:48, UK
Brooks Koepka believes there is no reason why he cannot win at least 10 major championships in his career ahead of his bid for a fourth in less than two years.
Koepka boldly declared his superior mental strength gives him the edge over many of his rivals in the majors, and that his fearless attitude towards other players has been a key attribute in his success.
The 29-year-old became the first golfer in almost 30 years to successfully defend the US Open last June when he followed up his 2017 major breakthrough with an impressive win at Shinnecock Hills, and he then held off a valiant charge from Tiger Woods to collect the PGA Championship crown at Bellerive.
Woods then turned the tables to edge out Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele to clinch a memorable fifth Masters title at Augusta National last month, but Koepka is determined to get the better of the 15-time major champion at Bethpage Black this week.
When asked about his major target at his pre-tournament press conference in New York, Koepka said: "I've got a number, I don't see why I can't get to double digits.
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"I think you keep doing what you're supposed to do, you play good and you peak at the right times. Like I've said before, I think sometimes the majors are the easiest ones to win.
"Half the people shoot themselves out of it, and mentally I know I can beat most of them, and then from there it's those guys left, who's going to play good and who can win. So I don't see any reason it can't get to double digits."
Koepka also played down suggestions of a "rivalry" with Woods, adding: "There's a little bit of an age difference there. He's a little bit older, but I don't see it as a rivalry. I mean, it's just golf. It's not like football where you've got a rivalry that's been over 20, 30 years. I mean, it's just really been the last couple years.
"So I don't see it as a rivalry, although it is fun to play against him, the best player to ever play the game. But if you guys want to talk about rivalry, I think that's pretty cool to hear. It's exciting for me.
"I'm just looking forward to this week, to playing with him. It'll be interesting. I don't think we've been paired together too much, especially over the last couple of years. He's been in the group in front or group behind. It'll definitely be interesting."
But Koepka, who plays alongside Woods and reigning Open champion Francesco Molinari for the first two rounds this week, ruled out any prospect of being intimidated by the Masters champion.
"I mean, what's the point in fearing anybody? We're not fighting," he said. "I mean, unless I was standing there and not prepared for a punch. Other than that, he's not going to knock my teeth in. He's not going to hurt me. So what's there to be afraid of?"
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