Morikawa Criticizes Fan Behavior at the Ryder Cup
Collin Morikawa, a renowned golfer, has expressed his opinion on the behavior of American fans during the recent Ryder Cup. While he acknowledged that some actions “crossed the line”, the player does not feel responsible for having provoked the tense atmosphere that was experienced. Before the start of the tournament at Bethpage Black, Morikawa had expressed his desire for the first day to be “absolute chaos”. During the three days of competition, the European players were subjected to insults and derogatory comments from the public. Incidents such as booing while the players were preparing for their shots were reported and, in one case, the throwing of beer towards Erica, Rory McIlroy’s wife. This behavior was widely criticized.Morikawa, speaking on Wednesday, stated that the fans went too far, but denied any responsibility for contributing to the situation. Furthermore, the golfer clarified that his words were taken out of context. The PGA of America implemented additional security measures during the Ryder Cup, due to the increase in tension. The European team won after withstanding the final push from the Americans in the singles matches. Morikawa made these statements on the eve of the PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Classic, a tournament he won in 2023 and which is held in Yokohama, Japan. The golfer argued that he did not have the power to incite American fans with “saying a word”. Morikawa added that, although fans can express themselves, it is necessary to establish limits. He highlighted the particularity of golf, where players are exposed to what the public says due to the proximity.I think Ryder Cups are made to have a lot of energy, right? And I think by saying the word ‘chaos’, I didn’t mean they were rude, right? So that’s not up to me. What I meant was that I wanted energy.
Collin Morikawa
