Sports News

Collin Morikawa doesn’t believe he incited Ryder Cup crowd

Colin Morikawa admits the behavior of American fans at the Ryder Cup “crossed the line” but does not believe he was partly responsible for inflaming the atmosphere.

Two days before the Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black in New York, the two-time major champion said he expects “absolute chaos” on the opening day.

Over the course of three days, European players were subjected to abuse in the stands, including frequent insults and sarcastic comments, jeers from players as they prepared for shots and a bottle of beer was even seen being thrown in the direction of Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica. The behavior was widely criticized, with PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague apologizing to McIlroy and the rest of the European team.

Morikawa said Wednesday that fans had gone too far but denied any responsibility.

“I think we took it a little bit out of context,” Morikawa said. “I think there should be a lot of energy in the Ryder Cup, right, and I guess when I say the word ‘chaos,’ I’m not trying to make them rude, right? So, I believe, I shouldn’t take credit for people being rude. I guess what I’m saying is I want energy, right?”

The PGA of America added extra security during the tournament as tensions mounted at the three-day Ryder Cup, which Europe won after holding off a final-day charge from the United States in the singles match.

Morikawa was speaking ahead of the PGA Tour’s Gulfstream Classic in Yokohama, Japan, which he won in 2023. He said he didn’t believe he had the ability to incite American fans with “one sentence.”

“I think fans can sometimes do what they want and say what they want,” he said. “It probably crossed a line, so I would say there’s a line that needs to be drawn. But what’s different and unique about golf is that we hear pretty much everything people say because people can be so close to us. I think you have to learn how to differentiate between what’s appropriate and what’s not.”

PA contributed to this report.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button