Morikawa urges Ryder Cup crowds to bring chaos to help U.S.

Collin Morikawa implored American fans to bring chaos to the Ryder Cup's opening day at Bethpage Black, saying crowds had been tame during the public practice rounds and that the U.S. needed to tap into the energy of New York.

"I'll be honest, I think it's kind of tame so far, Tuesday and Wednesday," Morikawa said. "I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I'm all for it. I think it feeds into who we are and the American players and the American Team. We want it. We want to use that to our advantage. ... Just because we don't play in a [team] setting like this [regularly] doesn't mean the craziness of New York and the rest of the country that people are traveling in from, it doesn't mean that we can't use that to our advantage. I think we really have to tap into that. I hope they come strong. Watching all these kids, I know they want autographs, but come Friday, I hope they go crazy."

The comments reflect how the U.S. team is approaching the event, with vice captains pushing players during practice rounds. "It's the vice captains, I think, that are kind of putting us out there and giving us a little bit of a nudge," Morikawa said. "If you need that little nudge to say, hey, wake up, even though it's Wednesday, yesterday was Monday, Tuesday, these guys are pushing us in the right direction. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are able to read everyone on our team and say, hey, this guy needs a little bit of a pick-me-up and push you and a little poke."

The United States is hoping to redeem itself after a tough showing in Rome two years ago. Morikawa said the loss left a sour taste and lingered with him as he prepared for this year’s event. "It felt really weird. Like it wasn't an okay feeling," he said. "For the past couple years, I wouldn't say it's haunted me, but it definitely woke me up when I was on the verge of making this team to make sure I could give everything I could."

Morikawa is appearing in his third Ryder Cup, and the Americans are focused on translating the energy of the crowd into steady, measured play to reverse the result from Rome. The team hopes a strong showing in New York will help erase the memory of that defeat and set the tone for matches Friday and beyond.