Collin Morikawa became embroiled in another spat with journalists during an awkward press conference ahead of this week’s Rocket Classic.
The two-time major champion recently caused controversy by snubbing the media following tournament heartbreak and later insisting: ‘I don’t owe anyone anything’.
Morikawa’s comment sparked a wider debate within golf and now his relationship with journalists is under the microscope once more.
Earlier this week, Morikawa took issue with a question from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak about who would be carrying his bag at the upcoming Open Championship.
The world No 5 lashed out at the reporter over his recent coverage, telling Schupak: ‘Don’t put me down like that’
‘I read your article that you wrote. Look, I’m not here to tell people how to do their jobs, but I don’t get why you would make me sound bad,’ Morikawa said.
Collin Morikawa had a tense exchange with a reporter at today’s press conference over reports about his most recent caddie switch. pic.twitter.com/kJIuYSqLhs
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) June 25, 2025 
Collin Morikawa became embroiled in another spat with journalists ahead of the Rocket Classic
Following his first round at the Rocket Classic, the world No 5 defended his comments
His frustration apparently centered around Schupak’s use of a quote – later removed – in a report about Morikawa’s recent caddie change. ‘Ask me anything you want in my press conference later, I’m with my pro-am partners now,’ it read.
By including the quote, Morikawa suggested, the journalist was trying to ‘put him down’. ‘Those guys (pro-am partners) are paying a lot of money, they’re very important to the community, they’re very important to the Rocket Classic,’ he said.
‘And for you to put out a quote like that to put me down and saying: “Hey, wait two and a half hours.” I mean, you called me up on the first tee. I’m not going to tell you how to do your job; you can write whatever you want. This is America.
‘But don’t put me down like that because it’s two and a half hours, Adam.’
Following his first round on Thursday, the world No 5 defended his comments. He suggested a ‘ridiculous’ perception of him has developed and that at some point ‘you have to stand up for yourself.
‘This has happened twice between me and Alan [sic]. It hasn’t happened between anyone else,’ Morikawa said.
‘I’m not going to let someone just throw little jabs at me and just make me into someone I’m not. Because I know who I am and that’s all that matters.
‘I know my people, my team, my family know who I am. But this whole perception out there right now is just, it’s a little ridiculous… that’s not who I am.’
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Furious two-time major winning golf star Collin Morikawa confronts reporter in heated press conference clash
