Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – Collin Morikawa shot 65 and carded nine birds in the second round on Friday, square in battle at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
But before he shifted his focus to Final 36, he squared with the media who called him because he was not available after losing a lead with three shots by five to play on Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.
“For people to call me is – it’s interesting. It shows nothing,” Morikawa said. “I get what you say. But I was there. I signed for each individual immediately after the round, whether they wanted it or not. I ended in second place. They could care less. But yes, I will leave it on it, okay?”
When Morikawa signed his performance card Friday after a 7-under 65, he was 9 under for the tournament, tied with Rory Mcilroy and two backs of co-leader my Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia (11 under) with several groups still on the course.
Before the players started this week, Golf Channel called Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley Morikawa “fragile” for skipping media obligations after a disappointing loss. Rocco Mediate, who is currently playing on the Champions Tour, said Tuesday on PGA Tour radio that Morikawa’s actions were “pathetic.”
“Your job is to tell people what happened. You lost? You lost. You got beat? That’s what’s going on,” said Mediate. “Guess what? Golf is hard,” said Mediate. “You up, talk about it and be done.”
Morikawa “didn’t leave it” on Friday and said that the media could have followed him against the area he signed for the fans for 15 minutes. And he offered a direct response to Mediate, Chambblee and McGinley.
“I just want to add one more thing: I might bite my tongue after saying this, but to Brandel Chamblees, to Paul McGinley, to Rocco media in the world, I don’t regret anything I said,” said Morikawa. “You know, it may have been a little hard to” I’m not owed anyone “but I’m not owe anyone.”
-Field level media
