©Corey Perrine - Florida Times-Union
Collin Morikawa is one of the most talented players on the PGA Tour. The major champion is possibly the best ball-striker on the tour, and when he putts well, he is a threat to win any tournament.
Recently, he’s been in a bit of a war with the media after skipping a recent press conference, claiming he doesn’t need to speak to the media. On Tuesday, two days before The Masters, Morikawa doubled down.
Now 28, the winner of the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship is looking for his first Green Jacket after a bunch of close calls at Augusta. He’s finished in the top ten the last three years, and his worst finish, a T44, was in his first appearance back in 2020. Since then, he’s been no worse than T18.
Back in March, Morikawa finished one shot back of winner Russell Henley in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Club. Afterwards, he declined to talk to the press, and a few days later he clarified his decision, claiming he doesn’t owe anyone in the media anything. That’s a tenuous position considering that television media deals pay for a large chunk of his on-tour earnings.
On Tuesday at The Masters, Morikawa doubled down.
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
To me, Morikawa comes off a bit whiny here. Doing press is part of the job. Maybe the PGA doesn’t have it written into league policies like the NBA, MLB, and NFL do. But, it’s part of promoting the league. He’s not the only athlete to be disappointed after a close loss. But, in those other sports, they still talk to the media.