Last week, Morakawa's Colin jumped out of Bay Hill and avoided the media after coughing a three-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Two days later, at a pre-tournament press conference at the Player Championship, Morikawa explained why he did that and said, “I'm not inferior to anyone.”
That put many former players on his decision, including Rocco Mediate, Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinely. They all criticized the two major winners for not facing music and explaining his perspective on what happened. Mediate called his movement and subsequent response “Horse Sh*T” and explained that Chamblee and McGinley could serve as a conduit for fans. Chamble and McGinley explained how everyone can endure losses and heartbreaks more often than they win, from the overall people of sports, business and life. Every day, people can resonate with people who are far short of people than those who have climbed the top of the mountain.
Still, after his 7-under 65 on the player on Friday, Morikawa doubled the reason he skipped in the press.
“I might bite my tongue after saying this, but I don't regret what I said to the mediation of the world of Brandel Chambles, Paul McGinleys, and Rocco,” Morikawa said.
“It may be a bit harsh that I owed anyone, but I don't owed anyone. I respect the fans. I am very grateful to them. I am grateful. It makes me emotional, but it's just – I've finished the round and went to sign, so it hurts to hear people say this [autographs] 10 minutes, 15 minutes for everyone. No one from the media followed me. Because I don't know. But that's me.
“So it's interesting that people call me – it's interesting. I just don't show anything. I mean, look, get what you guys are saying. But I was there. I was signing for everyone right after the round. I finished second. They couldn't really care. But yeah, I'm going to leave it as is, right? Thank you.”
While most top players like Morikawa make millions of dollars, the cost of being a professional golfer is that they have to talk to fans through the media. People can idolize these players and learn a lot from trials and hardships. Perhaps they can evoke their perspective and how they treat adversity in their daily lives, Chamble emphasized on the Golf Channel at the beginning of the week.
However, Morikawa feels different, continuing to dig into his heels and standing on his ground.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
