Collin Morikawa: Ryder Cup-TGL Golf comparison receives scrutiny

Halloween might be gone but Collin Morikawa gave us one last horror show on November 1.

Footage emerged on X, formerly Twitter, of Morikawa joining LA Golf Club as part of the new TGL Golf series.

See if you can stomach the words that fell out of his mouth on the video call:

“I just got chills through my body, I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like this. I got my Ryder Cup call this year, but I think this tops it almost.

“We’re going to make some history.”

While uttering this verbal mess, he is looking around the room smiling, perhaps sharing a joke with someone.

🚨🏌🏻‍♂️📱Collin Morikawa’s was ecstatic as he received the call to join @WeAreLAGC from @alexisohanian: “I just got chills through my body, I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like this, I got my Ryder Cup call this year, but I think this tops it almost.”

{🎥: @WeAreLAGC} pic.twitter.com/E0Yms5Vy4h
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 1, 2023

But what’s the joke?

Many of the replies were critical of the 26-year-old, and it’s easy to see why.

This two-time major champion compared signing for a team in a new initiative that doesn’t start until January 9 to playing in an event steeped in history and heritage.

Imagine Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood or Shane Lowry making such a statement. It just wouldn’t happen – and this video could point to something else.

American players don’t take the Ryder Cup as seriously as Europe do. They don’t live and breathe it as the Europeans do.

An answer to this could be: How did the USA Win 19-9 at Whistling Straits? And how did they win at Hazeltine too?

My response would be that America has only won four of the last 14 editions, and this is primarily down to Europeans essentially being obsessed with the Ryder Cup.

Morikawa and his teammates showed passion to almost turn the tide in Rome, but it was too little, too late.

We all brandished our knives when Talor Gooch compared the atmosphere at a LIV Golf event to the Europe-USA matches, and this is no different in my eyes.

The clip involving the former Open champion came across as tone-deaf and to me, it also raised questions about attitudes towards McIlroy and Tiger Woods‘ new start-up.

ALSO: Green Jacket or Ryder Cup? Jose Maria Olazabal knows what he’d choose…

What does this mean for TGL Golf?

You could accuse me of taking this clip too literally and I probably am. But let’s consider the other side of it.

If Morikawa was just making an innocent joke by comparing TGL to the Ryder Cup with a hint of sarcasm, does this make TGL the joke?

Woods and McIlroy would presumably hope their colleagues aren’t taking it lightly.

Both stars have invested much of their time (and likely heaps of money) through TMRW Sports to construct a custom-built arena with cutting-edge technology.

They have also attracted franchises and key players in the sports industry to invest in each team that is billed with the biggest names in the game.

I imagine Arthur M. Blank, John Henry, the Williams sisters, Michelle Wie West and Steph Curry want the TGL Golf league players to take things at least a little seriously.

The interactive nature of TGL, with players wearing microphones, suggests it could be a more relaxed atmosphere, matching the light-hearted nature of Morikawa’s words.

TGL could grow into a phenomenon, and that would be great. Who wouldn’t want a fun and innovative golf feature added to our weeks?

But the joke is on someone here, whether it be the Ryder Cup or TGL.

NOW READ: Edoardo Molinari: Joe LaCava gave Europe ‘fuel’ to win the Ryder Cup

What did you make of this Collin Morikawa Ryder Cup comparison? Tell us on X!

Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.