It is difficult to leave a big happy. Collin Morikawa explained why

Charlotte, NC – There is a special Alcove in the hungry closet room that housed about 300 square meters of greatness this week.

In the center of this room, which was in the center of the largest closet room, a copy of the Wanamaker trophy was lowered along with other Quail’s significant trophies. Presidents’ Cup, Championship Wells Fargo (now Truist), even the annual guest of members. Around these trophies were the reserved closets of those whose names were inscribed in that silver. It was a closet room with hidden hidden champions in simple, as unclear view as Xander schauuffleThe protective champion found it very difficult to find it at the beginning of the week.

At the end of the week – while players withdrew their luggage from the door and deposited gloves, balls, and even clubs in a bin like donations to see local – that Alcove is where we found Collin Morikawa, the 2020 champion and the number 4 player in the world, deep in his emotions.

Was a fiery weeks for many people in the field. Quail Hollow – a course they know so well – played much differently than expected, with mother -supported mother. He also had the best player in the world, in the lead and fleeing. Morikawa kept it together better than most – he not Discard any clubs or get Caught by begging in the broadcast – all the way through the final putt. Just not after.

As he approached the note, he found the coach and his long agent waiting for him, and loudly shared a three -word rating for his game:

“Pathetic golf f – king.”

He signed for a over 72 years old and then returned to his coach, Rick Sessinghaus and New Caddy, Joe Greiner, for a fierce ventilation session, very outside. He lasted about 15 minutes as the players came and went. Bryson Dechambeau headed towards 1. Rory Mcilroy passed, much intent NO Speaking to reporters (or anyone, but the owner of the club) for his week.

Morikawa necessary to talk about it.

“I don’t try and be harsh like this,” Morikawa told me, Duffel bag on my shoulders, just a few steps away from the Alcove champions. “But you just have to talk things. I don’t think people do it as much as their team around them. They make it interior. Sometimes you just have to leave your frustration.”

This disappointment is partly the reason why I was curious to get the Morikawa perspective. Emotion is the center of golf stories. Of human travel. But another reason is because, again in March, Morikawa lost his lead in Arnold Palmer Invitational holes and refused to talk to reporters after the round. A few days later, to the players, he spent a whole press conference explaining that day in length, but made titles to declare it, at the moment, he did not owe anyone an explanation. He did not want to talk to anyone, a period. He wanted to leave Orlando as soon as possible. But he also said one more thing in that imposed receipt: that if he had given him an hour or more, he would be able to talk to a clear mind. Is one increasing feeling Among the pros.

So we were, about an hour after Morikawa announced his game of “pathetic f – king”, getting into detail.

“Things is little things,” he said. “Because I know this game is like that – it’s just from the thread of a needle, or not? Small margins can mean great results. At the end of the day, I can live with bad golf. But bad golf for me is poor swing, you know and poor execution.

“When I am giving shots I feel like not – and I am, I feel like a strong mental player – that’s what is disappointing.”

After all, he said, there is something about his game that deceives him at the moment. (This is Golf.) Double double making in the 18th hole in rounds 1, 2 and 3 will disturb it for some time, and will surely continue until it better play it next spring in the Truist. But Morikawa prouds not to show that disappointment when it is inside the ropes. In the closet room, he tried to show the specifics of small, mental mistakes, or maybe he is simply holding them. I will think his team probably knows. He thought again in the 2022 season when his swing was just a little far away, and he could not explain it completely. This week, he says, was a little physical and a little mental. The way he described the pain of his six Bogeys Sunday – with a sigh, followed by three seconds of silence – made them sound like they would cause him a personal work. Perhaps this is what is like in an arena with smaller borders.

It felt like a particularly penetrating, meaningful moment, this closet room scene, and somewhat more true than he would have said in front of a microphone, anyway. Like a conversation that those of us who care about professional golf – Golfi Nerds, Golf Media, Golf players, sports fans who look at diplomas, even casuals who know only Morikawa from a Netflix Binge – would find interesting and guides. How is a big championship of lost Opportunity lost with a high pro? How will we understand his future peak if we do not fully understand his valley? And while he may have gathered unnecessarily just two months ago, at least Sunday was clear: Morikawa gets it. His still red eyes with emotion, he was righteous and raw and generous with his time. These conversations with his team, plus some time to draw, let him discuss what had happened and what it means.

“I set high standards for myself, and when you don’t reach them, you sometimes go crazy a little,” he said as we started to close. “But sometimes you wake you up. For me, at the end of the day, it’s like, how can I wake up a little more, rest.

Scheffler has developed a skill for this. He has been as good as he received the best thought in the world their bestHow was it when it happened, and what it took to get there. Morikawa’s best was the reason he was in that championship room to start. This game is filled with such things. Memories of where you were, and where you want to go.