Portugal Colonial - Koepka tells LIV rebels to 'play better' for US Ryder Cup spot

Koepka is the only golfer from the Saudi Arabia-backed tour to play at this week's event in Rome after being selected by American captain Zach Johnson, the five-time major winner only just missing out on automatic qualification despite defecting from the PGA Tour last year.

Earlier this month Dustin Johnson, who won all five of his matches in the Americans' 19-9 thrashing of Europe two years ago, said his decision to leave for LIV cost him a place on Zach Johnson's team.

But asked by reporters at the Marco Simone course whether Dustin Johnson and other LIV golfers had been treated unfairly, Koepka said: "I don't make the decisions.

"Everybody had an opportunity to get there. I mean, I had the same opportunity as every other LIV player, and I'm here. Play better. That's always the answer."

Koepka said that he is not in Italy to represent other players on the LIV tour, which has also removed European Ryder Cup icons Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter from the equation.

Earlier Rory McIlroy, the most experienced Ryder Cup player at this year's edition, said that trio would be missing the Europe team more than the Europe team would miss them.

"I feel like I'm representing the USA. That's what I've got on the front of my hat this week, so that's what I'm representing," he said.

"We're just all one team, and that's the way we think. That's what I believe, and I'm pretty sure everybody else there thinks that."

A third PGA Championship win back in May and joint second at this year's Masters the previous month went a long way to convincing Johnson to pick Koepka.

The 33-year-old's record in golf's biggest tournaments gave him a chance of being picked, but it wasn't until his display at the Masters that he had his eye on a spot on the team.

"I mean, I knew it would be tougher, but I think after Augusta I kind of had my eyes on it," added Koepka.

"I realised, I think, after Augusta I went to maybe 20th, somewhere around there on the points list, and then from there it was just motivation to get on the team.

"I had a lot of other things going on... I don't think Ryder Cup was one of them at that particular moment, but I think the closer this got, the more it was definitely in the front of my mind."

The 44th Ryder Cup gets under way on Friday morning with four foursomes matches.

F.Santana--PC