Collin Morikawa has been in the news in a negative context fairly regularly recently.
All of the issues for Morikawa began when he finished second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in March, and stormed off without giving an interview to reporters.
Morikawa took to Instagram after his Arnold Palmer Invitational heartbreak, rather than speak directly to the media following his final round.
The criticism he received for snubbing journalists clearly affected him because his best finish since that tournament was a T-10th the following week at THE PLAYERS Championship.
He will be desperately hoping that he is able to find some form at the Rocket Classic this week.
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Morikawa shot a three-under par round of 69 on day one at Detroit Golf Club, and is currently sitting seven shots adrift of the leaders.
However, the 28-year-old has clearly not dropped his agenda against certain media members.
After his opening round in Detroit, Morikawa defended his comments about standing up to the media on Wednesday.
“Well, because I think everyone should, and that’s a trait that you should learn how to do. At a point you can only follow so much and you have to stand up for yourself.
“Look, this has happened twice between the same — between me and Alan [sic.] It hasn’t happened between anyone else. A lot of other reporters, media, I respect everyone. This whole idea that I don’t do it. I mean, I’ve looked up how many times I’ve finished second, it’s not once.
“You know, I think for me to — I have to stand up for myself because I’m not going to let someone 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.
“Granted, you know, we’ve seen a few players do it as well, but that’s not who I am. I am here for you guys, but it’s just, you know, did it one time and so be it.“
The problem for Morikawa is that many golf fans believe he is just digging himself an even bigger hole now.
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
One golf fan suggested that Morikawa needs more guidance from his team, “Someone on his team needs to step up and stop this kid from falling off the cliff!“
While another fan urged the Californian to relax, “Somebody needs a vacation. You’re playing golf for a living bro – RELAX.“
Then another X user accused the 28-year-old of double standards, ‘How dare he take little jabs at me!’ He says before taking little jabs at other players…“
A fourth golf fan suggested that Morikawa has made this an issue when it didn’t need to be, “No one knew about that article until he talked about it.“
Meanwhile, another said, “While trying to prove to everyone he’s not ‘that guy’, Collin has shown everyone ‘that guy’.
And a sixth fan suggested that Morikawa needs to toughen up, “It’s sad how soft this guy is. Classic entitlement.“
its sad how soft this guy is. classic entitlement
— Hold My Cup⛳️🦢🏴☠️ (@doubledteam6) June 26, 2025
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Meanwhile, a seventh fan urged the two-time major champion to get a PR expert on board, “The irony is if he hadn’t have raised this issue, nobody would even be aware of it. He needs to defend himself from himself, first and foremost. Desperately needs a PR expert to advise him.“
While an eighth fan piled in on Morikawa as well, “Doubling down on being a baby is pretty wild.“
Just a couple of weeks after the controversy at Bay Hill, Morikawa spoke to reporters at THE PLAYERS Championship.
And he did not hold back when offering an explanation as to why he snubbed the press after the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“I just want to add one more thing. I might bite my tongue after saying this…but to the Brandel Chamblee’s, the Rocco Mediate’s, the Paul McGinley’s, I don’t regret anything I said,” Morikawa said.
“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 grateful for them you know it makes me emotional but it hurts to hear people say this, especially you guys [the media].
“I finished the round and I went to go and sign for ten or 15 minutes afterwards. Not a single person from media went to follow me, because I don’t know, that’s me. So for people calling me out, it’s interesting. It doesn’t show anything. I get what you guys are saying but I was signing for every person after the round. I had finished second, they couldn’t care less. So yeah, I’m going to leave it at that.”
Talk about emphatic. Talk about uncompromising. Talk about steadfast.
Morikawa perhaps doesn’t care about what people think of him. However, as he gets older he may well come to the realisation that he does actually owe the fans something.
Because without them, the game of golf would not be the behemoth that it has become.
