AVONDALE, La. — Collin Morikawa looked dejected.
After all, he had just missed his third cut in 13 events this season, not too shabby for most PGA Tour pros, but then again Morikawa is anything but average – remember how he opened his career by making 22 straight cuts? Let’s not forget that he was paired with Max Homa, ranked seventh in the world, in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Tour’s lone two-man team event.
Heading home on Friday after combining to shoot 8-under 136 in four-ball and foursomes formats, two strokes below the cutline? Inconceivable!
Morikawa had reason to pout if not punch a hole through a locker room wall. He could’ve made a quick getaway. But none of these are his style. He put on his watch, shared a few cordials with caddie J.J. Jakovac and grabbed his Sharpie to go sign for the merry band of autograph seekers lining the blue fence that separated fans from players.
One of the youngsters had a yellow flag with the Zurich Classic logo purchased at the nearby Fan Shop. He had collected so many autographs already that he had resorted to having players scribble their names on the back of it. When the kid asked Morikawa to sign on the wrong side of the flag, Morikawa tried to talk him out of it and in not-so-subtle ways tried to explain, ‘Do you know who I am? I’m a two-time major champion,’ but eventually succumbed to the wishes of the kid. He continued down the line, signing a homemade HomaKawa shirt that didn’t age well.
This shirt did not age well but at least he got it signed pic.twitter.com/CLEDNLRKhA
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) April 22, 2023
But Morikawa saved his finest moment for George Birdrow IV of Biloxi, Mississippi, an 11-year-old fan in a bucket hat, who turned on the voice recorder setting of his iPhone like a seasoned reporter and began peppering Morikawa with questions for a school project.
Q: What’s the hardest part of being on Tour?
CM: I think just managing your expectations and kind of enjoying the travel as much as you can. We travel 20-30 weeks a year, some guys even 35. It’s a very different lifestyle, even though I played a lot of golf growing up.
The aspiring journalist had a great follow up question and Morikawa continued to take it seriously.
Q: How does all that travel and being away from family for a long period of time affect you?
CM: It’s tough. You have to learn to enjoy your time away from the golf course. We spend so much time out here. Today, we had a rain delay and I got out here at 9 a.m. and it’s 7 o’clock.
Morikawa could’ve walked away at this point and this kid’s day would have been made but the interview continued.
[pickup_prop id=”33194″]
Q: What do you think about over a shot?
CM: A lot for me is seeing the shot. Most likely I’m going to hit a cut and move the ball left to right. For me, it’s a lot about tempo, taking it a little slower going back and making impact all the way through.
Q: At what age did you start playing and what motivated you?
I took my first lesson at age 5. It was something I just enjoyed doing and did it a lot by myself. For the most part, I slowly started to get better and when you’re good at something you have a lot of fun. It’s cool to see a lot of these guys that I’ve played with since I’ve been about 10 years old. To see a lot of familiar faces makes it easier and knowing that you’re able to do it when you’re playing against these older guys that either you watched on TV or played with since I was your age.”
Morikawa also recounted about the time he was paired with Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods, his childhood favorite, in the first two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open.
“That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done,” Morikawa said.
As was the impromptu interview with a two-time major champion for a young fan doing a school project.
Twitter follower Ruann01 said it best in a comment: “If you can choose to be anything in life choose to be kind. Imagine what it meant for this youngster.”
UPDATE: George’s father tracked me down and tells me he was working as a tournament volunteer at the driving range, and his son previously interviewed Ryan Palmer on Wednesday.
“He’s a great kid,” father said of his son. “He’s 11. Read War and Peace, makes all A’s (in school). He’s going to be a cancer research doctor, an oncologist and cardio-thoracic surgeon and a professional golfer. No threat to you.”
After missing the cut, @collin_morikawa not only signed for everybody but answered a handful of questions from this 13-14 year-old fan and aspiring journalist who probably is going to take my job in 10 years. @Zurich_Classic pic.twitter.com/LQ4JZpEiin
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) April 22, 2023
[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]