PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA | Collin Morikawa had something to say Friday afternoon – again – about what he didn’t say last Sunday after Russell Henley outdueled him to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Morikawa did not speak to the media in the immediate aftermath of the tournament at Bay Hill, prompting criticism in all the familiar places. When he explained himself Tuesday at the Players Championship, he triggered a firestorm of discussion because, among the things he said was, “I don’t owe anyone anything.”
It led to a lengthy on-camera discussion between Golf Channel analysts Paul McGinley and Brandel Chamblee about what a player’s media responsibilities are and should be. It spilled over into social media, onto radio shows and served as a flash point before the discussion turned more to birdies and bogeys.
Last June, Rory McIlroy got roasted for driving away from the U.S. Open without commenting about his gut-churning loss to Bryson DeChambeau and the subject lingered until McIlroy eventually wrote a social media post about how he reacted.
This time, it’s Morikawa in the hot seat, as much because of what he said Tuesday as what he didn’t say on Sunday.
It works that way sometimes. Morikawa spent 15 minutes Tuesday and another five minutes Friday talking openly about his play, his expectations and what comes next. Much of that gets lost in the smoke of what feels like a brush fire.
It leads to a broader discussion about what should be expected of golfers, who can be prickly at times, especially after a poor finish. Having heard enough conversation about himself, Morikawa had an addendum to his media session Friday afternoon that centered on his second-round 65 that thrust him up the leaderboard.
“I just want to add one more thing,” Morikawa said, looking directly into a camera in front of him. “I might bite my tongue after saying this, but to the Brandel Chamblees, to the Paul McGinleys, to the Rocco Mediates of the world, I don’t regret anything I said.
“It might have been a little bit harsh that I don’t owe anyone, but I don’t owe anyone. I respect the fans. I’m very thankful for them. I’m grateful. It makes me emotional, but it’s just – it hurts to hear people say this, and especially you guys, because I finished the round and I went to go sign [autographs] for 10 minutes, 15 minutes for all the people after.
“Not a single person from media went to go follow me because, I don’t know. But that’s me. So for people to be calling me out is – it’s interesting … I get what you guys are saying. But I was there. I was signing for every single person right after the round, whether they wanted it or not. I finished second. They could care less. But yeah, I’m going to leave it at that, all right? So thank you guys.”
In many team sports, the losing teams are generally given a mandatory cooling off period before facing the media. It doesn’t necessarily ease the hurt but it’s a version of the “count to 10” lesson children are taught before lashing out when they’re angry.
It wasn’t so much that Morikawa blew off the media Sunday afternoon – it happens and is understandable at times – but it was the remark about not owing anyone anything that triggered the hot takes.
In his comments Friday, was Morikawa speaking more to the media or to fans or both?
There has been an emphasis within the PGA Tour about being more responsive to fans and players giving the public more than brilliant iron play and showing off their short games. It’s why walk-and-talk interviews during rounds are becoming more prevalent.
In many team sports, the losing teams are generally given a mandatory cooling off period before facing the media. It doesn’t necessarily ease the hurt but it’s a version of the “count to 10” lesson children are taught before lashing out when they’re angry.
Golfers sign their cards then find the media waiting to hear from them. Had a media member approached Morikawa after signing the Sunday autographs, he may have talked but it didn’t happen that way.
Morikawa pointed out that he didn’t want to be around his wife, his manager or anyone else for a while Sunday afternoon having just had a two-stroke lead with five holes remaining turn into a trophy presentation for Henley. He has nibbled around the edge of several potential victories over the past year and the near miss at Bay Hill was another one.
Actions have consequences and Morikawa is dealing with the consequences of what he did and said. It has obviously bothered him enough to prompt his Friday response, which may have been like asking for a shovel while in a hole.
There’s another angle in play as well. Golfers and athletes often get criticized for talking but saying little and, in the cases when they share their unvarnished feelings, they often get roasted for it. Morikawa is living that reality at the moment.
At 9-under par through 36 holes and close enough to the lead to be a serious threat to win the Players Championship, the conversation can turn back to his golf, which is where it began just after lunchtime on Friday.
“Look, I don’t have to get motivated for this week. You show up and you know what the goal is,” Morikawa said.
“But I’ve kind of looked at it Monday, Tuesday, figured out what do I need to do different, what do I do the same to put myself in that position, and just things go your way, right, and you just make it happen.”
No argument there.