Collin Morikawa pushes back on Ryder Cup narrative

Collin Morikawa says it's false to suggest the Europeans care more about the Ryder Cup than their counterparts.

Last September, Keegan Bradley's United States side were on the receiving end of a defeat on home soil for the first time since 2012. 

A final-day rally gave the score a veneer of respectability, but Bradley still faced a relentless and brutal inquest after the 15-13 loss.

His pairings were questioned, particularly the decision to send out Morikawa and Harris English in the foursomes even though Data Golf suggested it was the worst-possible.

The decision was scrutinised further after Bradley sent the duo out again despite a heavy 5&4 foursomes defeat to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood. 

Bradley has already admitted his mistakes, particularly with the course set-up. 

There were reports the US team were frustrated with the grounds crew at Bethpage Black as some players suggested the greens were far slower than anticipated. 

Others suggested a possible contributing factor for Europe's dominance in recent contests is down to the fact they simply care more. 

US players received heavy criticism before the showdown at Bethpage Black as they were paid for the first time. 

Several members of the US team gave all of their "stipend" to charity but that didn't stop the accusations they simply don't play for each other. 

"No," Morikawa said when asked by Dan on Golf whether that could've been one of the contributing factors for the most recent defeat. 

"I mean, maybe that was a narrative a while ago. 

"But I think our group of guys that have played over the last, at least my three Ryder Cups, like, we care, we get along well, maybe we have to push a narrative for people to believe it

"I could text any one of these guys and ask to go to dinner, ask them a question about anything.

"It's we just didn't play well. First two days, you know, we didn't get that momentum, we didn't get the few putts that we needed to drop.

"Condition wise, we had a real tough time controlling spin out of the fairways, and we played against Rory and Tommy, Harris and I did, and, like, it was almost better to play out of the rough, because there wasn't any rough.

"But put all the excuses aside, like, simply, we just didn't play well. It happens, that's golf."

The PGA of America are yet to name Bradley's successor. 

Tiger Woods is the favourite to take the reins, but the 15-time major champion may wait until the Ryder Cup returns to the United States in 2029. 

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Bradley said he was still "haunted" by what transpired at Bethpage. 

"I'm trying to navigate, really, my entire life after the Ryder Cup and then also my playing life," he told SI. 

"The Ryder Cup takes so much out of you. And being the captain takes 10 times really. So yeah, I'm trying to navigate a world where that’s not the reality any more. It's tough."

He added: "It's not like I’m just going to get over it, you know? It's something that I'll have to live with the rest of my life."

Luke Donald is yet to confirm whether or not he will continue as Europe's captain. 

Francesco Molinari is the frontrunner should the Englishman decide against leading the team at Adare Manor next September.