Collin Morikawa fired back at the media after facing widespread criticism for declining press duties on Sunday.
The two-time major winner blew a 54-hole lead at Bay Hill as Russell Henley came from behind in the final round to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Despite being ranked fourth in the world, Morikawa’s winless streak stretches back to 2023.
The 27-year-old returned to action at The Players Championship and explained why he was in no mood to stick around.
Speaking on Tuesday, Morikawa said: “I don’t owe anyone anything.
“No offence to you guys, but for me in the moment of that time, I didn’t want to be around anyone.”
Those comments drew a critical response from some corners of the golfing world, not least from ex-PGA Tour player Rocco Mediate.
Speaking on his SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio show, Mediate said: “Biggest bunch of horsesh*t you could ever say, period. I mean, that is the dumbest, most selfish garbage you could ever say.
“Mr Palmer would’ve hunted him down. Trust me on that one because Mr Palmer told me one thing that stuck with me. [He said] ‘You know what, Rock, it’s real easy to go in and talk to somebody when you won or when you’ve played well, but can you do it when you don’t? That’s the key.’ Obviously he can’t.
“I didn’t wanna talk to anybody. Your job is to tell people what happened. I don’t give a sh*t about your workout in the morning and all that other crap. Tell me what happened. You lost? You lost. You got beat? That’s what happens. Guess what? Golf’s hard.”
Morikawa fired himself into contention during the second round of The Players and responded to his critics in unexpected fashion.
Closing off his post-round media huddle, the American looked down the barrel of the camera lens and delivered a response to Mediate.
Morikawa also called out fellow critics Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley.
Completely unprompted, the golfer said: “I just want to add one more thing.
“I might bite my tongue after saying this, but to the Brandel Chamblees, to the Paul McGinleys, to the Rocco Mediates of the world: I don’t regret anything I said.
“It might have been a little bit harsh that I don’t owe anyone, but I don’t owe anyone.
“I respect the fans. I’m very thankful for them. I’m grateful. It makes me emotional, but it hurts to hear people say this [criticise], and especially you guys [media], because I finished the round and I went to go sign for 10 minutes, 15 minutes for all the people after.
“Not a single person from media went to go follow me because, I don’t know. But that’s me. So for people to be calling me out is – it’s interesting. It doesn’t show anything.
“I get what you guys are saying. But I was there. I was signing for every single person right after the round, whether they wanted it or not. I finished second. They couldn’t care less.
“But yeah, I’m going to leave it at that, all right?”
Morikawa tees off at 6.15pm on Saturday – live on talkSPORT 2 – two shots back from overnight leader Min Woo Lee.
