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Collin Morikawa became embroiled in another spat with journalists during an awkward press conference ahead of this week's Rocket Classic.
The two-time major champion recently caused controversy by snubbing the media following tournament heartbreak and later insisting: 'I don't owe anyone anything'.
Morikawa's comment sparked a wider debate within golf and now his relationship with journalists is under the microscope once more.
Earlier this week, Morikawa took issue with a question from Golfweek's Adam Schupak about who would be carrying his bag at the upcoming Open Championship.
The world No 5 lashed out at the reporter over his recent coverage, telling Schupak: 'Don’t put me down like that'
'I read your article that you wrote. Look, I’m not here to tell people how to do their jobs, but I don’t get why you would make me sound bad,' Morikawa said.
Collin Morikawa became embroiled in another spat with journalists ahead of the Rocket Classic
Following his first round at the Rocket Classic, the world No 5 defended his comments
His frustration apparently centered around Schupak's use of a quote - later removed - in a report about Morikawa's recent caddie change. 'Ask me anything you want in my press conference later, I’m with my pro-am partners now,' it read.
By including the quote, Morikawa suggested, the journalist was trying to 'put him down'. 'Those guys (pro-am partners) are paying a lot of money, they’re very important to the community, they’re very important to the Rocket Classic,' he said.
'And for you to put out a quote like that to put me down and saying: "Hey, wait two and a half hours." I mean, you called me up on the first tee. I’m not going to tell you how to do your job; you can write whatever you want. This is America.
'But don’t put me down like that because it’s two and a half hours, Adam.'
Following his first round on Thursday, the world No 5 defended his comments. He suggested a 'ridiculous' perception of him has developed and that at some point 'you have to stand up for yourself.
'This has happened twice between me and Alan [sic]. It hasn’t happened between anyone else,' Morikawa said.
'I’m not going to let someone just throw little jabs at me and just make me into someone I’m not. Because I know who I am and that’s all that matters.
'I know my people, my team, my family know who I am. But this whole perception out there right now is just, it’s a little ridiculous... that’s not who I am.'
