Ross Kinnaird

Paired up to start the US Open, perhaps Brooks Koepka’s recent strong showings at majors have rubbed off on Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman, with a fifth major title within reach, looked cool, calm and collected entering Los Angeles Country Club before his final round on Sunday.

“Kind of a big deal,” McIlroy states to Koepka’s delight. And we have to wonder if this is an Anchorman reference or an off-the-cuff remark from McIlroy. Just one shot back of the leaders, this is the perfect one-liner to start his day. Very cinematic, which makes sense for the location.

In the second-to-last group paired with Scottie Scheffler, a loose McIlroy was a scary sight for Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark. It’s also nice to see the former PGA Tour-LIV Golf rivals leaving the past in the past. A good line is a good line and Koepka already has two US Open trophies, so a nice paycheck and a round of golf, even if he doesn’t like the course, isn’t the worst way to spend a Sunday.