Morikawa: Americans need to make Covid adjustment for Open
Collin Morikawa, the world No 4, is “slightly” surprised to be playing in front of 32,000 fans per day in next week’s Open but has backed the R&A’S decision to have a bubble for players.
Fellow American Rickie Fowler has expressed “concerns”abouttheset-upforthe Claret Jug event in Kent, saying: “It seems like us as players, we're jumping through some hurdles and dodging bullets and they're having 32,000 fans a day at the tournament.”
Speaking as he prepared to play in front of a strictly-limited attendance at this week’s abrdn Scottish Open at The Renaissanceclub,morikawa insisted he felt safe about the planforthedelayed149thedition of The Open.
“Imean,slightly,”hereplied to being asked if he thought 32,000 was a large number at the moment.
“Butyouseehowmanyfans are going to the Euros, I think Wimbledon let in a bunch of fans or full capacity for the quarters. They moved that up early as I think they had it at finals at first.
“Obviously I wish we could get out and explore, but I think the entire year since Covid has started and since we've returned to golf, I really haven't felt any safer anywhere compared to when you're inside the bubble.
“I think once you're in the bubble, you feel very safe. You feel comfortable and we're able to just go out and play golf.
“It'stoughbecausewhenwe are stuck inside a bubble, you canjustloseyourmindsometimes.youhavesomuchtime awayfromthegolfcoursethat sometimes you're just sitting in the room trying to figure out what to do and that's kind of the hardest part sometimes.
“Especially when you see other people and you see fans wanting to do other things or going out there, and you see 32,000 people out there when you have to strictly eat your food and go back to your room.”
Morikawa has already been part of European Tour bubbles for the DP World Tour Championship and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic whereasfowler,forinstance, will be making his first journey across the Atlantic in the Covid world.
“In the US, things are gettingback,prettynormalthese days. So when you do make a trip out here and you have to stay in a bubble, it's an adjustment,” said Morikawa.
“It'sanadjustmenteveryone has to make, especially all the US guys. It's something we haven't been used to over the past few months.”
Morikawa,the2020uspga champion, is joining world No 1 Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele among others in making his Scottish Open debut. Struggling with jetlag, he posted a video of the sun rising on Tuesday morning.
“I tried staying awake last nightbuticouldn't,fellasleep like 8.15, 8.30, slept until at 4.30,” he said. “It stays bright out here for quite some time andthenitgetsbrightearly,so Iwantedtotakeapeakoutside my window. I have got a great viewthisweeklookingover18 and6.yeah,beautiful,beautiful view out there.”
Schauffele says Scotland in the rain is no place for a honeymoon, but he’s hoping his latest links test will be a marriage made in heaven.
The American, who was married on 26 June, has travelled alone to East Lothian.
“No offence to anyone here butiwouldnotchooseaplace that rains so much to take my honeymoon,” he said, smiling, on a video call for the Rolex Series event.
“I've heard a lot of the European folks say it's an Americanlinks-stylecourse,”hesaid of the Tom Doak-designed course at The Renaissance Club. “I think the course is awesome. I think it's fun. I hope it's playing as hard as possible.”