Collin Morikawa doesn’t feel indebted to anyone. He stated this clearly after skipping a press conference while in a prime position to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month. Later, he defended his controversial media avoidance, while also admonishing multiple golf broadcasters.
Reactions from golf media to Morikawa’s “entitlement” were far from supportive, yet Rory McIlroy offered a different perspective on Tuesday during his Masters press conference. McIlroy essentially backed Morikawa, asserting that journalists shouldn’t expect athletes to engage with them every time. This ongoing debate seems to have become a sensitive issue for Morikawa, who maintains he owes the media nothing beyond his performance on the course.
Critics suggest that Morikawa appears irked by the entire situation, raising the question of whether professional golfers are overly sensitive compared to athletes in other sports when faced with criticism. Does Morikawa agree with that assessment?
“It’s an interesting question,” he responds. “I wasn’t upset about it. I think everyone interpreted it the wrong way. I could have expressed myself differently, but I stand by what I said. I was in the moment, and it was essential for me to be true to myself at that time. I even wanted to avoid my wife—I said ‘Hi’ after, hugged her, and went straight to the locker room. There needs to be a balance and an ebb and flow between everything. I want to be available to you guys. However, I’ve been in the top five in the world before, and no one comes up to me with questions. You can’t just approach me when I’m performing well; you should engage with all top 10 players consistently to showcase who we are.”
Collin Morikawa addresses the media access debate he’s found himself at the center of this season:
“There needs to be a balance and an ebb and flow between everything … you can’t just ask me when I’m playing well.” https://t.co/3ub1lkdg9I pic.twitter.com/EJ6j5W1TLr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 8, 2025
Morikawa’s stance appears contradictory at times. He doesn’t want to face a barrage of questions solely when he’s winning, yet his choice to skip media availability after falling short sparked the debate and backlash initially. As he reinforced his position, Morikawa acknowledged that there were instances when reporters opted not to approach him.
“So, there’s a balance,” he adds. “If you don’t want to ask me, it’s not my job to share my story. Sometimes it is, but I do that through social media and by winning tournaments. Not everyone operates that way, which is why this confusion persists. I maintain my stance.”
In this convoluted narrative, Morikawa seems to imply that if the media seeks his story, they need to earn it. He’s not inclined to provide soundbites just to meet expectations. If he’s performing well, he’ll offer something for discussion; otherwise, he is uninterested in crafting a narrative for anyone. While many may see this as problematic, for him, it’s merely a matter of setting boundaries.
