"Collin Morikawa stands unapologetic about his words": Golf pro defiant against media criticism over skipped press conference.
In a candid press conference at TPC Sawgrass, Collin Morikawa shared his thoughts on his media absence following a heartbreaking loss at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. After a stellar second round performance at The Players Championship, Morikawa explained he was "heated" and "pissed" after the close call, feeling drained and choosing to avoid the media.
The two-time major champion, resigned to his third runner-up finish across his last six events, left Bay Hill without speaking to the press. Six days later, Morikawa justified his actions, stating, "I don't owe anyone anything."
Criticism soon followed from six-time PGA Tour winner Rocco Mediate, who called out Morikawa's comments as "the dumbest, most selfish garbage." Mediate, during his SiriusXM show, The Rocco Hour, said, "Your job is to tell people what happened."
Former pro turned pundit Brandel Chamblee weighed in, calling Morikawa's media absence "disrespectful." Chamblee, in a Golf Channel broadcast, added, "I don't know if history is going to reflect back on this generation of players as being good for the game."
However, Morikawa didn't back down, standing firm during his return to the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse by saying, "I don't regret anything I said." He reiterated, "I respect the fans. I'm very thankful for them. I'm grateful."
During his impressive second round, Morikawa ticked off nine birdies and briefly shared the lead, coming within two strokes of the clubhouse leaders, Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee. In a particularly memorable moment, Morikawa channeled his caddie's earlier Acquis holed-in-one feat, dropping a stunning chip-in with a 3-wood at the 4th hole, surpassing 31 feet from the cup.
It's safe to say Morikawa made a splash at The Players Championship, both on and off the course.
- Due to his dissatisfaction following the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Morikawa chose to avoid the media, echoing the sentiment, "I don't owe anyone anything."
- Despite the criticism from Rocco Mediate and Brandel Chamblee, Morikawa remained unapologetic, reiterating, "I don't regret anything I said, I respect the fans."
- On the slopes of TPC Sawgrass, Morikawa demonstrated his prowess as a golfer, ticking off nine birdies and nearly securing victory—just like his caddie's earlier acclaimed hole-in-one.
