Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Brooks Koepka USA on the 18th tee during Round 3 of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 at St. Andrews Golf Club, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. 05/10/2024. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey St. Andrews Old course St. Andrews Fife Scotland Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Brooks Koepka USA on the 18th tee during Round 3 of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 at St. Andrews Golf Club, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. 05/10/2024. Picture Thos Caffrey / Golffile.ie All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Thos Caffrey St. Andrews Old course St. Andrews Fife Scotland Copyright: xThosxCaffreyx *EDI*
The "fifth major" debate resurfaced during a press conference at THE PLAYERS Championship. Brooks Koepka was asked about it but showed little interest in fueling the discussion.
The debate resurfaces around the tournament almost every year, as the PGA Tour promotes the event with the slogan “March is going to be Major.”
When a reporter jokingly asked how many majors he would feel like he had if he won the tournament this week, the five-time major champion briefly played along. “Going off the record, it would be four, wouldn’t it? Or five, I guess. Yeah. Five,” Koepka said.
Koepka steered away from the topic while making it clear that he views the tournament simply as THE PLAYERS Championship rather than a fifth major.
Koepka said the tournament serves as the flagship event of the PGA Tour, bringing together many of the tour’s best players in one field.
The nine-time PGA Tour winner added, “I know what you're trying to bait me into saying, but listen, it's the PLAYERS Championship. Everybody knows it's a tournament you want to win… it's the kickoff of the big season of the golf.”
While Koepka avoided engaging with the debate, career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy previously addressed the question directly.
Rory McIlroy Weighs In on the "Fifth Major" Debate
Rory McIlroy has previously spoken about labeling THE PLAYERS Championship as golf’s “fifth major.”
During the pre-tournament interview ahead of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam in 2025, said the current structure of the game does not require another major.
While he acknowledged the stature of the tournament, he stated that the four existing majors already define the sport’s championship structure. He also described himself as a traditionalist.
The 29-time PGA Tour winner said the tournament stands on its own, noting that it already holds a clear place in the schedule without needing to be labeled as a major.
McIlroy has also won THE PLAYERS Championship twice, in 2019 and 2025, but said that does not change his view that the sport’s four majors should remain as they are.
Should THE PLAYERS Championship be recognized as golf’s fifth major? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Aditi Singh
Brooks Koepka’s Year-by-Year PGA Championship ResultsFew players in modern golf have stamped their authority on the PGA Championship quite like Brooks Koepka. Known for his raw power, steely stare, and an unshakable calm under pressure, Koepka has collected three Wanamaker Trophies and a reputation as one of the game’s most dangerous closers. Here’s how his journey at the PGA Championship has unfolded, year by year. Kyle Terada/ImagoKoepka’s first taste of the PGA Championship came in 2013. He finished tied for 70th, nothing flashy, but for a 23-year-old still trying to find his feet, it was a week of lessons. His length off the tee turned a few heads, but inconsistency held him back. Back then, fans weren’t circling his name on the leaderboard; he was just another young pro learning the ropes. Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group/MCT/ImagoOne year later, Koepka had tied for 15th, showing sharp progress with booming drives and much steadier putting. By now, golf fans were starting to recognise that this wasn’t just another long hitter. While he didn’t challenge for the trophy, his ability to hang around near the leaders hinted at bigger things to come. Eric Canha/CSM/ImagoThe breakthrough signs came in 2015, when Koepka cracked the top five. Tied for 5th, he showed he could handle the major spotlight. Commentators praised his composure, and the buzz began: this guy looked built for majors. A win still felt around the corner, and the golf world was paying closer attention. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY SportsIn 2016, Koepka climbed even higher, finishing tied for 4th. It wasn’t just about length anymore; his iron play and recovery shots were sharp, and he looked like he had all the tools. Fans began whispering what many already suspected: Koepka wasn’t just a talent, he was turning into a problem for anyone chasing a major title. Brian Spurlock Icon Sports Wire/ImagoNot every year can be golden. In 2017, he settled for T13. He struck the ball well, but the putter cooled at the wrong moments, costing him a shot at contention. Still, by this point, no one was doubting his major credentials. A dip, yes, but hardly a setback, more like a breather before the storm. Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire/ImagoAnd the storm hit in 2018 at Bellerive. Koepka’s blend of power and poise produced a record-tying 264 total, enough to outlast a roaring Tiger Woods, who electrified crowds with a Sunday charge. Fans were torn; Tiger’s comeback had all the emotion, but Koepka’s refusal to crack under the noise was the stuff of champions. His second major of the season, and his first PGA title, cemented his arrival as the new alpha in golf. Mark Newcombe/ImagoIf 2018 proved he could win, 2019 proved he could dominate. At Bethpage Black, Koepka became the first back-to-back PGA champion since Tiger. He built a seven-shot cushion heading into Sunday, then wobbled with four straight bogeys on the back nine as the wind picked up. Dustin Johnson closed the gap, the crowd got tense, but Koepka held his nerve. The win showed that even when shaky, his mental toughness was a weapon few could match Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire/ImagoBy 2020, the injury whispers had started. At Harding Park, he tied for 29th alongside names like Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Wallace. The driver was still a hammer, but the short game and putter betrayed him. For the first time, the conversation wasn’t about Koepka the intimidator; it was about whether his body was starting to betray him. Greig Cowie/BPI/Shutterstock/ImagoLimping through knee pain, Brooks finished runner-up to Phil Mickelson, who at 50 pulled off one of the most historic wins in golf. The crowd was swept up in Phil’s fairytale, but Koepka’s grit shouldn’t be forgotten. He stared down pain and still fought to the finish, reminding everyone that you never count him out at a major. Matthew Bolt/Icon Sportswire/ImagoThen came 2022, a week to forget. Tied for 55th, Koepka looked off from start to finish. Wayward drives, missed greens, and a putter gone cold had fans shaking their heads. “Where’s the old Brooks?” became the refrain. It was a reminder that golf’s peaks and valleys can be brutal, even for proven champions. Adam Cairns/ImagoIn 2023 at Oak Hill, he looked like his old self, blasting drives, hitting darts with his irons, and rolling putts with confidence. His final-round 67 sealed a two-shot win over Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler. It was his third PGA title and fifth major overall, and it put him in rare company, tying Rory McIlroy with four majors at the time. Adam Cairns/ImagoBrooks' 2024 showing was quieter: tied for 26th. He started solidly but couldn’t keep the momentum through the weekend. Not a collapse, but not a charge either. Still, his name alone kept him on the radar because with Brooks, everyone knows a heater could arrive at any moment. Golf File Fran Caffrey/ImagoThree Wanamaker Trophies, a runner-up, and a stack of top finishes. Brooks Koepka’s PGA Championship résumé isn’t just impressive, it’s one of the benchmarks of golf’s modern era. From a kid grinding his way into the majors to a man fans now expect to show up when it matters most, Koepka has turned the PGA into his personal stage. At 35, with five majors already in hand, his legacy is secure, but the sense lingers that he’s not done writing his story just yet. Aflosport/Imago
