Despite the rift in golf’s landscape, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka have managed to preserve their friendship amidst the sport’s ongoing battle lines. McIlroy has been an outspoken critic of the controversial LIV Golf since it launched in 2022, sticking close to the PGA Tour.

In contrast, his longtime pal Koepka jumped ship for a lucrative deal with the upstart league led by Greg Norman. McIlroy’s objection to LIV Golf may have softened recently as efforts towards reconciliation gain traction, but that hasn’t stopped him from supporting his friend.

Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka have remained friends despite the golfing world’s issues (Image: Getty Images)

When Koepka snagged his fifth major at the 2023 PGA Championship—becoming the first LIV golfer to do so in this new era—their camaraderie was on full display. Featured in Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’ documentary, an elated McIlroy is seen yelling Koepka’s name across the car park, followed by hearty congratulations and a warm hug, despite the backdrop of tension between LIV and the PGA Tour.

“Brooks! Brooks! ” McIlroy shouted, and then to Koepka after the embrace, “I’ll give you a shout man! ” Koepka triumphed during a peak period in the PGA Tour versus LIV drama, but for McIlroy, that seemed immaterial.

McIlroy, who has been vocal in his criticism of players joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, experienced a rift with his reliable Ryder Cup partner Sergio Garcia due to the controversy. However, their friendship has since mended, reports the Mirror.

Despite the tensions, McIlroy disclosed that his relationship with Koepka remained unaffected. “It’s OK to get on with Brooks and DJ [Dustin Johnson] and maybe not get on with some other guys that went to it,” he commented before the 2023 Masters last April.

Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy have been good friends for some time ( Image: Getty Images)

The remarks followed a practice round at Augusta National where McIlroy and Koepka, having not played together for nearly a year after Koepka’s switch to LIV Golf, seized the opportunity to pair up in Georgia. “It’s more just two friends just wanting to play together,” Koepka explained then.

“I guess you could look at it that way. But yeah, I just wanted to play with him, just compare my game. I know he’s been playing well. So it was good for me to see, and I think it’s fun to be able to go play with these guys.

“We haven’t played with these guys in a long time, so just getting out to go play with them has been nice because it’s been a lot of just seeing everybody.”