Collin Morikawa takes swipe at Min Woo Lee as Presidents Cup tensions continue

Collin Morikawa dealt a sharp blow to Min Woo Lee at the Presidents Cup on Thursday , and right after their clash, he added insult to injury. In their four-ball match, Morikawa , along with his teammate Sahith Theegala, delivered a defeat to Lee and his partner Adam Scott, which put pressure on the International Team early in the competition.

The American duo managed to transform an early disadvantage into a triumphant win, with Theegala's awe-inspiring approach on the 18th hole setting up an easy birdie that sealed their victory.

This contributed to the United States' complete dominance on the opening day, finishing with a clean 5-0 sweep. Morikawa showed no mercy towards the opposing side as he took a cheeky jab at Lee, commonly referred to as 'The Chef', across social media platforms.

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Morikawa, who has a catchphrase 'let him cook' used by fans to cheer him on, posted an image on Instagram where he is seen fist-bumping Theegala with the caption: "Chef cooked. We ate."

But it wasn't just this incident that sparked controversy at this year's Presidents Cup. There was a heated moment between Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim as well, especially during a contentious two-hole stretch where some branded Kim's behavior as 'disrespectful'.

Kim's loud celebration following his long birdie on the seventh was quickly countered by Scheffler who halved the hole and yelled back, "What was that?".

Kim's follow-up birdie incited another jubilant reaction, but the sparks flew as he ventured to the ninth tee without waiting for Scheffler's putt, which ultimately veered off course.

Post-play, the tensions seemed to simmer as both competitors downplayed the competitive exchange, yet the incident undoubtedly fueled each player's desire to outdo the other as the tournament progressed. Morikawa, in contrast, shared that the U. S. team radiates nothing but positive vibes.

"If people are freaking out, nervous, I think I'm just kind of the... I'm the stone cold, quiet, neutral guy, the dude going about my business who keeps everyone happy and lets them laugh around me," he said.

"Yeah, look, I think I bring a sense of ease around the team. Scottie is always there to keep a smile on your face. We have a lot guys on the team that honestly bring a lot of good, positive energy."

As for team dynamics, Morikawa conceded with a smile, "You know, it sounds pretty cliche and cheesy to say, but you can kind of go up to anyone and have a good laugh and talk. That's what's great. Xander [Schauffele] definitely wins the MVP for kind of like class clown."