Paul McGinley calls for rule change after Collin Morikawa claim

It wasn’t so much Collin Morikawa’s refusal to speak to the media that became the big talking point, but his strong missives afterwards.

After surrendering a three-stroke lead with five holes to play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, Morikawa declined the chance to immediately dissect his Sunday heartbreak at Bay Hill.

That, of course, was not particularly unusual behaviour.

Rory McIlroy famously eschewed reporters after his agonising US Open collapse at Pinehurst last year and with no rules dictating otherwise, it ultimately remains a player’s prerogative whether or not to front up after a round.

Morikawa, at the time “heated and pissed”, simply didn’t want to relive where it all went wrong as he missed out on his first PGA Tour victory in almost 18 months at the hands of Russell Henley.

Yet it was the two-time major champion’s attitude in the days that followed that proved striking – and particularly worrying – in some quarters. “I don’t owe anyone anything,” Morikawa claimed, dismissing criticism of his snub in a press conference ahead of The PLAYERS.

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Then, after further backlash over those remarks, Morikawa doubled down again, name-checking Golf Channel critics Paul McGinley and Brandel Chamblee, as well as Rocco Mediate in his latest rebuttal.

“I don’t regret anything I said,” he added, unprompted after Friday’s second round at Sawgrass. “It might have been a little bit harsh that I don’t owe anyone… but I don’t owe anyone.”

McGinley, however, believes there is a risk of a dangerous precedent being set with players avoiding media duties after their rounds.

“I’ve sat on both sides and I think it’s something that the game can’t afford,” the Irishman told bunkered.co.uk. “We are already stretched in a lot of ways in terms of promoting the game. One of the things that appeals to people and why sponsors get involved in golf is our code of behaviour and our ethics. Part of that is an obligation of the players to give insights.

“People might say well, ‘nobody’s interested if they lose.’ Actually, they are. In my view the best interview over the last ten years that I can remember was Rory’s interview at the Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits. TV is a huge part and it’s the duty of the players and journalists to acknowledge that and be part of it.

“It’s dangerous for the business of golf. It’s really important that the players are aware of their obligations and remember they are custodians of the tour. Players come and go but the tour remains the same. It’s important those standards are kept going forward and they’re not dropped and new norms created.”

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With the Masters looming, McGinley pointed out that no player will be refusing to do media duties on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National – and argues the top brass on the elite tours should now intervene and make post-round interviews compulsory across the board.

“Personally I would be very strong on it if I was [PGA Tour commissioner] Jay Monahan or [DP World Tour CEO] Guy Kinnings,” McGinley told bunkered.co.uk. “At the moment it’s optional, maybe it needs to become an obligation or a rule because it’s not going to help the game if players start (avoiding media) more regularly.

“It’s not a big ask. It’s one or two questions. I understand when things don’t go your way it’s hard to give an interview but that doesn’t mean you can’t give one or two answers. Tiger never refused an interview. There’s no reason why the current players should refuse it either. I’m hoping it’s something that won’t become a norm.

“It’s not just about playing golf, we’ve got to see a little bit of their personality too – and that includes win, lose or draw.”

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Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.