Koepka Targets World No.1 Spot - "I've Got Eyes On Rory"

The four-time Major winner has spent 47 weeks atop the Official World Golf Ranking but lost the No.1 spot to McIlroy in February

Koepka Targets World No.1 Spot
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The four-time Major winner has spent 47 weeks atop the Official World Golf Ranking but lost the No.1 spot to McIlroy in February

Koepka Targets World No.1 Spot - "I've Got Eyes On Rory"

Brooks Koepka says his goal is to get back to World No.1 after losing the spot to Rory McIlroy in February.

Koepka returns to action this week at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he finished 2nd in 2018, and his game is "a million times better" now than before the Coronavirus pandemic took hold of the PGA Tour season.

The four-time Major winner has struggled with his knee after having it operated on after the Tour Championship back in August.

Now though, he is back to full fitness with eyes on Rory to return to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

"I'm just trying to play the best golf I can play," he said.

"I've got eyes on Rory. That's the goal is to get back to No. 1 in the world. That's the whole point of playing is to be the best.

Related: Rory McIlroy calls for European and PGA Tours to merge

"If I do what I'm supposed to do, if I take care of my business, then I don't see any reason why I couldn't get back to that.

"I dug myself a hole, obviously, getting injured and then when I started back up the first three months of back playing or two months back playing. I dug myself a little bit of a hole.

"But you play good, you win, everything will take care of itself."

Koepka has spent 47 weeks as the world's number-one player, first reaching the top after his CJ Cup win in October 2018.

He is currently third in the world, behind Jon Rahm who could become World No.1 for the first time if he wins this week.

Related: how to watch the Charles Schwab Challenge

Rory McIlroy enters this week as World No.1, with his total currently at 101 weeks - the 3rd-longest reign in the 34-year history of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Greg Norman is second with 331 weeks and Tiger Woods is top with 683.

For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels @golfmonthlymagazine on Facebook and @golfmonthly on Twitter and Instagram

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV