Collin Morikawa abruptly left the golf course last week after T2 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The young golfer was frustrated because he didn't win this tournament, and he didn't even want to talk to the media. This drew huge ire at him from famous golf figures, and one of those who reacted was Paul McGinley, the Irish golfer.
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Morikawa was angry at the comments of figures like Chamblee, Mediate and McGinley, telling them that he does not regret anything he said, adding that 'he doesn't owe anyone'.
The American golfer explained that after everything, he stayed with the fans for a while and signed their things.
Paul McGinley decided to react again, frustrated by the behavior of the American golfer. He believes that the public does not want to hear such statements.
So its a word of caution to the players more than anything else that, you know, dont come out and say something like, I dont owe anybody anything because that does not sound good, he said on Golf Channel. Maybe it was a wrong choice of words, but dont say anything like that.
It doesnt sound right and its not what the public want to hear because ultimately, at the end of the day, the public are the ones paying higher prices to come to events. The public are the ones being denied all the best players coming together more regularly in terms of the top events as the product of golf has become diluted. And the media is a prism for all of that.- he continued, as quoted by Golf.
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Paul McGinley gives an example
McGinley also mentioned one player.
He said that perhaps the most memorable interview he can remember in professional golf was one after a loss, not a victory. He mentioned Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, when he jumped at the end, after a poor performance by Europe. It was the raw emotion that humanized Rory, and golf in general. Although it was difficult to do, McGinley believes it was a very positive moment for professional golfers.
He added that it is not always about smiles and victories, and that there has to be a balance between taking and giving for everyone.
