[Photo: PGA Tour interviews]
Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa did not stop to talk to media after a heartbreaking loss to Russell Henley at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. When the Californian finally spoke with reporters days later at this week’s Players Championship, he explained his decision to eschew media by saying: “Yeah, just heated. Just pissed. Like I don’t owe anyone anything. No offense to you guys, but for me in the moment of that time, I didn’t want to be around anyone. Like, I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I didn’t need any sorries. I didn’t need any “good playings.” Like, you’re just pissed.“
Reading Morikawa’s comments, former PGA Tour winner-turned Champions Tour pro, Rocco Mediate, ripped the young star and he didn’t hold back on his weekly SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio show, “The Rocco Hour,” on Wednesday night. “Biggest bunch of horsesh-t you could ever say, period. I mean, that is the dumbest, most selfish garbage you could ever say,” Mediate said. “Mr. Palmer would’ve hunted him down.”
On Friday, after a second round 65 at the Players Championship that elevated Morikawa to nine-under-par and two shots back of clubhouse leaders, Australian Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia, Morikawa used an unrelated question at the end of his post-round interview to address the comments. Morikawa got emotional in defending himself. Read the question and answer below:
Q. The 5-wood chip, do you practice that? What went into deciding that that was the right play?
COLLIN MORIKAWA: “Yeah, that’s kind of been my play on courses like this where I’m kind of going up slopes, and yeah, for me I could have easily putted it, but it’s just something that I felt very comfortable with and might have had a little bit of speed, but it’s all right.
Then 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.”
