Rory Mcilroy defends Collin Morikawa in media controversy: ‘He’s right’

Augusta, ga. – Collin Morikawa was right, says Rory Mcilroy.

But he could have expressed his latest thoughts on the players’ media obligations “better”.

Speaking Tuesday in front of himMaster press conference, Mcilroy was asked about comments made Morikawa last month at Championshipafter he did not speak to the reporters a week ago after a conclusion where he lost a late lead to Arnold Palmer Invitational. In front of the players, after questioning the move, Morikawa said “did not owe anyone anything”, which attracted criticism from analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley and Pro Rocco intermediary – And this led to an uncompromising response from the Morikawa after the second round of his players.

“I just want to add one thing. I can bite my tongue after saying this, but for Brandel Chamblees, in Paul McGinleys, at Rocco Medias of the World, I don’t regret anything I said,” Morikawa said. “You know, it may have been a little harsh that I owe no one, but I don’t owe anyone.

“I respect the fans. I’m very grateful for them. I’m grateful. That makes me exciting, but it’s right – it hurts to hear people say this, and especially you guys, because I finished round and I went to go sign for 10 minutes, 15 minutes for all people after.

“So for people to call me out is – it’s interesting. Just, it doesn’t show anything. I mean, look, I get what you are saying boys. But I was there. I was signing for every single person right after the round, whether they loved it or not.

Mcilroy, especially, too bypassed interviews Last June during the last round of the US Open when he lost a pair of short strokes and completed the race for winner Bryson Dechambeau. This act led to this exchange on Tuesday between a reporter and Mcilroy (the question is in Italy):

“Rory, Collin Morikawa captured some criticism of players to say that he owes the media nothing to leave Bay Hill early. You obviously catch heat after doing it in Pinehurst. Chatting after something compared to other professional athletes, players can be a little more sensitive.

“Well, he’s right,” Mcilroy said. “Not that I think he could have formulated it a little better, but see, every other athlete, be it in NBA, NFL, they are forced to talk to you guys after a game. We are not. Whether this is something PGA Tour looks at in their rules and regulations, but as long as we have the opportunity to choose from time to time.”

Last July, at his first press conference since US Open, Mcilroy said he did not regret not talking to reporters. Journalists, he said, were “the least of my concerns”.

Morikawa’s comments after his players second round drew responses from Chamblee and McGinley. Chamblee said that Morikawa did not “say no to” journalists, but to fans, sponsors, PGA Tour and players who do interviews.

“Everyone is allocated and engaged,” Chamblee told Golf Channel. “Golf has never been better. We are all. The puree is high high and it makes sense that it has a right, that they owe nothing to anyone. And he expressed what many people suspected many tournaments.

“It’s not true for all of them. Many of them are great with the media and give us these interviews afterwards. But it puts a dangerous precedent. And if he really feels that way, that’s good, it’s his opinion. That he has much more than he has much more than he has more, he has much more than he has more to have more, becoming repentant, becoming much more than having more than there is, passing, passing, passing, passing, going a lot, passing more than having more, passing more than having more. Many.

McGinley further the opinion of the “right”, saying it is “a view of many of the public”.

“So it’s a careful word for players more than anything else you, you know, don’t go out and say something like that, I don’t owe anything to anyone because it doesn’t sound good,” he said on Golf Channel. “Maybe it was a wrong choice of words, but don’t say anything like that.

“It does not sound properly and it is not what the public wants to hear because after all, the public is the ones who pay the highest prices to come to the event. The public is the ones who are denied all the best players who gather more regularly in terms of the best events as the golf product is diluted. And the media is a prism for everyone.”

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