The meat grinder that is the media can be a lot for any golfer to handle, and that has been on display at times throughout the 2025 season.
After Collin Morikawa’s blown lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which was eventually won by a surging Russell Henley, the American star spurned the media and instead bolted away from the premises immediately after signing his card on Sunday afternoon.
Morikawa caught a lot of heat for that decision, but he resurfaced the next week at The Players Championship and said that he doesn’t “owe anyone anything.”
On Tuesday, as he gets ready for The Masters, Rory McIlroy took Morikawa’s side on the controversial issue.
“Well, he’s right. Not that I think he could have worded it a little bit better, but look, every other athlete, whether it be in the NBA, NFL, they’re obligated to speak to you guys after a game. We’re not,” McIlroy said. “Whether that’s something that the PGA TOUR looks to in terms of putting that into their rules and regulations, but as long as that’s not the case and we have that option to opt out whenever we want, expect guys to do that from time to time.”
McIlroy knows a thing or two about Morikawa’s situation. After the 2024 U.S. Open, where McIlroy lost by one stroke to champion Bryson DeChambeau after missing a pair of short putts on the back nine, also skipped media availability.
The PGA Tour could go the route of making media mandatory after rounds for all players, like McIlroy alluded to and like other leagues have done. The tour could levy fines to players who skip press conferences, but that isn’t something that is on the horizon in the near future.
Whether it becomes mandatory in the future remains to be seen. Until then, golfers will have an easy out after a tough round if they want it.
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