Collin Morikawa addressed the recent buzz surrounding his split with longtime caddie Joe Greiner just before the 2025 Rocket Classic began. The two ended their professional partnership after less than three months, prompting Morikawa to ask the media for discretion until he completed the Pro-Am event.
Standing on the tee box at the first hole, Morikawa requested reporters to withhold questions about the separation until after the Pro-Am concluded in roughly two and a half hours. Despite this, Golfweek reporter Adam Schupak published an article about the split during Morikawa’s round, ignoring the golfer’s appeal for privacy. Morikawa later addressed the situation calmly during a post-round press conference.
Morikawa’s Response to Media Coverage and Public Reactions
In the press conference following his round, Morikawa acknowledged the coverage while maintaining composure. Golf analyst Dan Rapaport commended Morikawa’s approach on social media, noting his willingness to openly express dissatisfaction without confrontation.
“Zero problem with this from Collin…he didn’t like something that was written about him, he told the guy who wrote it his feelings, didn’t raise his voice…much prefer this over some canned non-answer!”
—Dan Rapaport, Golf Analyst
Meanwhile, some fans expressed confusion over Morikawa’s reaction, noting that they saw the article in a positive light and believed it did not portray him negatively.
“Except the article doesn’t make him look bad; if anything, it makes him look good. That’s what’s so odd about it,”
—Golf Enthusiast
“Plus if we’re being honest the way the quote was attributed can 100% be interpreted the way he said… it wasn’t really necessary to write the article at all,”
—X User
Other commentators pondered Morikawa’s mindset amid recent caddie changes and criticized media timing, suggesting the inquiry came too soon and was poorly placed.
“There’s nothing wrong with this exchange, but Collin’s clearly not in a good place with the caddy swaps.”
—Golf Enthusiast
“I promise that writer did not put in the pro-am stuff to flatter Collin. This is why players don’t want to talk to the media. Who goes up to somebody on the 1st tee to ask about his caddie situation?”
—Golf Fan
New Partnership with KK Limbhasut for Rocket Classic
Following the split with Joe Greiner, Morikawa’s bag this week includes KK Limbhasut, a former college teammate from Cal-Berkley currently playing on the Korn Ferry Tour. This marks a notable change in Morikawa’s team setup as he embarks on the Rocket Classic.
Prospects for Victory at the 2025 Rocket Classic
Morikawa enters the Rocket Classic as the tournament favorite, holding the best outright odds of +1,200 according to CBS Sports. Trailing him closely are recent Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley at +1,600 and Patrick Cantlay with +1,800 odds. Morikawa, Bradley, and Cantlay will begin their rounds Thursday, June 26, at 7:29 AM EDT from the tenth hole at Detroit Golf Club.
The caddie split controversy comes at a critical moment for Morikawa, who is aiming to assert dominance in this field despite ongoing distractions. His ability to maintain focus and handle media scrutiny calmly could prove crucial to his performance this week.