Losing stinks. It brings out emotions you didn’t know you had. This happened with Collin Morikawa at Bay Hill. He lost, finishing at T2, and decided to not speak to the media. Just like Rory McIlroy did at the 2024 US Open. Morikawa was then quick to point out he “doesn’t owe the media anything.” And boy has this whipped up a storm. Brandel Chamblee called out Morikawa for being entitled, saying, “He will regret it if he carries on touring down the media after he loses because he’s good, he’s going to have many more wins too, but it’s just part of the game.” Rocco Mediate, a six-time PGA Tour winner and now Champions Tour competitor, also didn’t mince words. On his SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio show, he unleashed a blistering critique, “Biggest bunch of horsesh–t you could ever say, period. I mean, that is the dumbest, most selfish garbage you could ever say.” Morikawa wasn’t one to sit back and listen. He clapped back.
“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,” Collin Morikawa expressed his feelings adamantly at TPC Sawgrass. Since then, this issue has been a major topic of discussion. Golf Channel Podcast with Rex & Lav talked about it too, saying Morikawa does owe his fans if not media.
“He doesn’t owe us anything because you’re one of the best reporters on the planet. He doesn’t owe us anything. We’re reporters, we’re here to gather information,” Lewis acknowledged initially. But then came the reality check that cut to the heart of professional golf’s ecosystem, centered around fans; “But I completely agree with you, he does owe the fans… and without those fans, Collin Morikawa wouldn’t be a multi-millionaire living in a really nice place in Las Vegas.” Now, discussing this issue is No Laying Up podcast, and host Neil Schuster.
Collin Morikawa called out for his lack of understanding of the media
Kevin van Valkenburg(KVV) feels that the recent comments made by Collin Morikawa come from a place of misunderstanding. The media, especially in golf, tries to act like the middleman that conveys information from players to the heavily invested fans. “Mostly what the golf people are are the people who are just trying to act like they are a conduit between you and the fans. They are just trying to get your story. They are not really asking like ‘How badly did you choke out there Collin,” explained KVV
He feels that the 28-year-old golfer’s comments portray media in a very bad light when all they are trying to do is help them.“If you don’t want to do it. That’s ok. I am not going to make a big deal out of this. I just think the idea that people don’t want that, that it’s just the media who’s like these vampires who are sort of sucking the blood out of the players. I think that’s bulls**t.” Its not like Morikawa does not understand fans’ sentiments. He does. After all, even after his loss at API, he signed autographs for the fans.
Remember, the fan survey that Justin Thomas had relied on before sending the memo. Thomas had stated that“on-course personality” is “the highest ranked driver of interest for young fans Getting the younger age group interested and watching our sport could be a huge difference in our popularity.”
It humanizes players to viewers watching at home, allowing them to see the inner machinations of a golfer’s mind, how they process setbacks, and how they approach a stroke. These are very interesting to the average fan. And that is where KVV is coming from with his analysis. “I think there is this desire for the fans to want to hear. ‘Hey man, What happened? Why did you hit the 7-iron there instead of the eight’,” KVV stated. “But you kind of owe the fans which is part of what’s putting up $25 million dollars for this. That’s something,” he added, a direct response to Morikawa’s most recent comments after several people involved in the game called him out.
Neil Schuster was way more direct and reproachful about Morikawa’s words. “Do the hard work upfront, get it out of the way and then you don’t have to worry about it. Then you can go home and be pissed. I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” the podcast host stated, implying that the tiniest bit of effort concerning the media could go a long way.
“I don’t regret anything I said.”
Collin Morikawa pushed back against the criticism he’s received for not speaking to the media after his runner-up finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. pic.twitter.com/1gT7jd0RMQ
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 14, 2025
However, it is not just Collin Morikawa who has found the media to be very pointy with their queries. World No.1 and No.2 have treated some media questions evasively.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have gotten annoyed with the media too
Even Scottie Scheffler was found answering questions testily during the PLAYERS. When one reporter had asked him about the golf course, Sccheffler’s response was this. “Sounds like you are trying to write something about the golf course, so I am not going to bite.”
Rory McIlroy was also very evasive when the reporter asked him about the heckler and the phone incident that took place at the practice round at the TPC Sawgrass. Despite, the reporter asking repeatedly about the incident, the 4x major winner chose not to say anything about it, instead commenting, ” I’m really happy that I shot 67 today.”
Do you think the players are justified in their thoughts about the media, as they are sometimes prone to cross the line with their line of questioning? Or do you think what the media does is essentially a reflection of what the fans want?
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