It is probably fair to assume that the 2025 Ryder Cup is not one that Collin Morikawa will remember particularly fondly, with the two-time major champion enduring a disappointing week at Bethpage Black.
Collin Morikawa is potentially one player who is ready to see the back of the 2025 season. His only top 10 since The Masters came at the Rocket Classic. Nevertheless, he did enough to convince Keegan Bradley to pick him for the Ryder Cup.
Unfortunately, he managed to deliver just half a point for Team USA at Bethpage. His pairing with Harris English in the foursomes saw Bradley come in for a lot of criticism. Meanwhile, it was the result in his match with Tyrrell Hatton on Sunday which saw Europe ensure that they would win the trophy outright.
But Bradley’s men restoring some pride with their fightback in the singles, it seems that Morikawa is instead now having to answer for comments he made ahead of the event starting.
Ryan Lavner defends Collin Morikawa over his comments before the Ryder Cup
Morikawa labelled the atmosphere during the practice rounds ‘tame’, and suggested that he wanted chaos once the Ryder Cup got going.
Of course, that is exactly what happened. A number of European players were heckled relentlessly, with many spectators saving the worst abuse for Rory McIlroy.
Morikawa has insisted that he is not to blame for the ugly scenes. And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner suggested that what happened at Bethpage is definitely not down to the 28-year-old.
“The PGA of America, in my opinion, could have done a better job of pre-empting some of the abuse that we saw. Having more security, being more vigilant, having an understanding or at least an outward messaging that you still need to be respectful, and that’s where I think Collin Morikawa was going when he was asking for chaos. He wasn’t saying chaos in terms of Rory McIlroy enduring three days of abuse, and Erica McIlroy enduring three days of abuse, and Shane Lowry being criticised by everybody for his weight, or Jon Rahm with the Ozempic jokes,” he said.
“That’s not what Collin Morikawa meant when he said he wanted chaos. What he meant was that they wanted energy, that they wanted an atmosphere, that when they made birdies, they wanted the place to be absolutely unhinged in a positive way, in an energetic way, not to actually have this vitriolic response. I think his intention was good, and so I don’t think Collin Morikawa bears any responsibility whatsoever, because that’s how it should have been.
“Had the Americans played better, I really do think the place could have been absolutely electric. Instead, they didn’t, they faltered, they played poorly. The fans who played $750 were p—-d, they took it out unfortunately on their opponents.”
Collin Morikawa is no stranger to having to defend himself this season after some controversial incidents
Morikawa is no stranger to having to defend himself this year.
What started out as an extremely promising run has turned into a season which has really tailed off. He finished second at The Sentry, before ending up as a runner-up again at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
But the manner of the loss at Bay Hill prompted Morikawa to not speak to the media afterwards, something which led to him being criticised.
Morikawa also got into a spat with a reporter after splitting with caddie Joe Greiner.
You could understand if he felt hurt by the notion that he had anything to do with what happened at Bethpage. There is no way at all that he was calling for a line to be crossed.
However, those who were determined to derail the Ryder Cup would have almost certainly heard the word ‘chaos’ and known that they had an excuse for their actions in their back pocket, regardless of the fact that is clearly the last thing Morikawa was trying to encourage.
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