Following a robust performance at The PLAYERS Championship, Collin Morikawa has emerged as a strong contender for the title. After scoring a 7-under 65 on Friday, Morikawa is now trailing just two shots behind the front-runners, Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia, with a total score of 9-under.
Despite his impressive performance, Morikawa found himself under fire, not for his golfing prowess, but rather for his silence in the face of defeat. Following his defeat to Russell Henley at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, Morikawa chose to remain silent, an act that drew much criticism from PGA Tour veterans and media pundits.
Among the critics was Rocco Mediate, a veteran golfer, who lashed out at Morikawa on his Sirius XM radio show, branding him as “selfish.” His words were harsh and unfiltered, “That is the dumbest, most selfish garbage you could ever say. Mr. Palmer would’ve hunted him down.”
Unfazed by the criticism, Morikawa did not hold back in his response after his second round on Friday. In an unexpected turn of events, he addressed his critics, including Brandel Chamblees, Paul McGinleys, and Rocco Mediate, stating clearly that he did not regret his actions. He emphasized that while he respected and valued the fans, he did not owe anyone an explanation.
Morikawa shared his feelings, “It hurts to hear people say this, especially you guys, because I finished the round and I went to sign for 10 minutes, 15 minutes for all the people after. Not a single person from the media went to go follow me because, I don’t know.”
In an attempt to provide further clarity on the issue, the two-time major champion took to social media to express his emotions post the defeat. He shared how he was heated and frustrated at the time, which led him to the decision of not wanting to be around anyone.
The frustration Morikawa felt is relatable as he was leading the Arnold Palmer Invitational all day until Henley’s improbable eagle on the 16th hole. This swing changed the game, turning Henley’s one-shot deficit into a one-shot lead, which eventually led to his victory. This left Morikawa winless since late 2023.
Nevertheless, Morikawa remains unfazed and is determined to break his winless streak. With another strong opportunity at the PGA Tour, he is set to be among the last groups to compete on Saturday afternoon at TPC Sawgrass. As the weekend unfolds, it will be interesting to watch if Morikawa can turn the tables in his favor and silence his critics with a victory.
