Morakawa couldn't get enough speed from Orlando after coughing a three-shot lead on five holes to play for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He rushed into his car and started early on a two-hour drive to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. However, he refused to talk to the media after his defeat, and many wondered what went wrong with the stretch.
Morikawa finally dealt with it at a press conference at TPC Sawgrass at Tuesday's press conference.
“It just heated up. Morikawa said when asked why he did it.
“I hope I don't owe anything to anyone. I don't have any attacks on you guys, but for me at the moment I didn't want to be around anyone. For example, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't need grief. I didn't need 'good play'. For example, you're just mad. ”
Unfortunately, for me, players whose defeats have worsened have faced music before. Greg Norman from the 1996 Masters comes to mind immediately. Carnousti's Jean Van De Verde in 1999 and the US Phil Mickelson in 2006 will also open at Winged Foot.
Another player who endured a deficit that hurts his intestines?
Rocco Mediate.
Mediate Lost To Tiger Woods in the 19-hole playoffs at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. If Woods hadn't made 12 footers for birdies on the 18th green to fit his score the day before, he would have won his only major title. Instead, Mediate became one of the most famous runner-ups in the history of sports the following day.
After the playoffs, Mediate answered all questions (33 to be exact), showing the world how to take a jaw loss and lose with dignity.
So, when he heard what Morikawa had to say about why he skipped in the Bayhill press, the mediator olded him on his Sirius XM radio show.
Alex Myers Golf Digest I first posted it on X.
Rocco will mediate the Morikawa Morikawa blast on the SiriusXM PGA Tour radio show based on the decision not to talk to the media after a close call in Bay Hill.
-Alex Myers (@alexmyers3) March 12, 2025
“The biggest bunch of horses you can ever say, the era,” said Mediaite.
“I mean, that's the most ridiculous, most selfish garbage you can say. Mr. Palmer would have cornered him.”
What makes professional golfers so affectionate is the way fans interact with them on a human level, especially in defeat. Everyone experiences trials and tribulations, highs and lows, golf fans want to understand how the world's best players (idol-worn individuals) handle adversity and fight through defeat. While most top players like Morikawa also make millions of dollars, the cost of being a professional golfer is that they have to talk to fans through the media.
“To be honest, it would have been an hour later I would have been talking to you guys…but I'll call it out, everything I did, and all I did. Look, my whole routine, yes. I was just drained. Morikawagawa said.
“I'm there like you guys, to understand how we played and how we went, but from my point of view, I didn't want to talk to anyone. Do you think that's fair to me?”
But is that fair to the fans? Does that set a good example?
Millions of people look up to these players for inspiration. Avoiding adversity and lack of accountability like Morikawa is a bad precedent to set.
Mediate is 100% right.
After all, he knows.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
