Collin Morikawa launched a passionate defence of his actions on Friday at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and Paul McGinley was caught in the firing line.
Morikawa declined to speak with the media last Sunday after what was a stinging defeat at the Arnold Palmer Invitational as Russell Henley stole in at the eleventh hour to pinch the title from his grasp.
A reader of golf media, Morikawa, who admitted on Tuesday that he just felt too “pissed” and hurt in the moment to speak to the on site journalists at Bay Hill last week, was fully aware of criticism from McGinley, Chamblee and Rocco Mediate for his decision to snub the post round interview and he came firing back.
After answering a question on how he played a bump and run with a 5-wood during his second round of the Players, Morikawa concluded his post round press conference with another impassioned defence of his decision to not conduct post media duties last Sunday.
“I just want to add one more thing. 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. You know, 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 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. It just, it doesn’t show anything. I mean, look, 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.”
Up until that point, the two-time major winner had let his golf do the talking and a second round of 65 has propelled him to within two shots of the lead on nine-under heading into the weekend where he has the chance to silence anybody who has doubts about his ability to get over the line.
Morikawa is alongside Rory McIlroy in a share of fourth place and he has been blown away by the Northern Irishman’s consistency over the last decade.
“Longevity is a huge thing, and not just longevity but consistency, and he’s a model of that. I remember when I turned pro in 2019, he was top-fiving, top-tenning every single week, something what we saw Scottie do last year into this year, the past two years, I guess. But to do that over his entire career essentially is incredible. It’s what you strive to do and just continue to keep working hard at it.”
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