Brooks Koepka Refuses to Take the Bait on THE PLAYERS Championship Debate

Mar 11, 2026, 2:53 PM CUT

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.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav