Collin Morikawa got here to Japan this week with a easy aim of ending his winless drought within the nation the place his father’s dad and mom grew up and cruised to a six-stroke victory with a bogey-free 7-under 63 on Sunday to win the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship.
“It feels so good,” Morikawa stated. “I knew I used to be going to get right here in some unspecified time in the future but it surely’s like getting your first win or main. Individuals begin asking questions and asking why. I needed to actually look again and ask myself what’s fallacious? What’s the why? What’s the explanation behind ending second or fifth versus a win? This win means the world.”
Morikawa, who’s of Japanese and Chinese language descent, claimed his sixth Tour title at Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Membership in Chiba, Japan, 25 minutes northeast of Tokyo, and first for the reason that 2021 British Open. It had been 27 months, a bit of shorter for the reason that 26-year-old former Cal Bear notched his final worldwide victory on the 2021 DP World Tour Championship. Morikawa had recorded 4 runner-up finishes since his final trophy – together with on the Sentry Match of Champions in January and the Rocket Mortgage Basic in July – and 14 top-10s, tied with Tommy Fleetwood for probably the most top-10 finishes over the past two seasons.
Talking on the eve of the event throughout a press convention, Morikawa stated, “Right here’s one final likelihood for the season to form of come off and end off on a excessive be aware. I do know what my aim is and I do know what I need to do and achieve this week is de facto simply get up and discover a solution to win.”
Morikawa grabbed the lead on Thursday with a 64 however struggled to 73 in robust winds on Friday. After beginning 3-over by means of 4 holes on Saturday, Morikawa trailed by as many as 9 strokes earlier than rallying with birdies on 5 of his final six holes to shoot 66.
Two photographs again heading into Sunday, Morikawa stated his mindset for the ultimate spherical could be to get off to a sizzling begin and he did simply that. Morikawa made birdies on the third and three of the final 4 holes on the entrance 9 to shoot 30 and construct a three-stroke lead at 11 beneath as Justin Suh, who held his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, chunked a chip on the fourth and made his second straight bogey. He stumbled to a final-round 74. Beau Hossler and Eric Cole, who performed alongside Suh within the ultimate group, faltered as effectively. Morikawa tacked on a birdie at No. 12, holing a 15-foot birdie putt, and at 15 and 18 to play his ultimate 24 holes in 12 beneath. Nobody mounted a cost as Morikawa posted a 72-hole complete of 14-under 266. Cole and Hossler each made birdies on the final to shoot 70 and tied for second, a stroke higher than Robby Shelton (65) and Ryo Ishikawa (67).
Collin Morikawa hits his tee shot on the tenth gap through the ultimate spherical of the 2023 Zozo Championship at Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Membership in Inzai, Chiba, Japan. (Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures)
“The sport felt excellent,” Morikawa stated. “All the things form of clicked.”
Morikawa, who received twice in his first eight begins within the majors, had dipped from second within the Official World Golf Rating to No. 20 throughout his winless drought however managed to make the Tour Championship as one of many high 30 within the FedEx Cup the final two seasons and signify the U.S. in each the Presidents and Ryder Cups. He complained that he misplaced his trademark fade that eliminated the left aspect of the course from play however his model of a stoop nonetheless was the equal of what most mavens would name a banner season.
For Morikawa, it was a studying expertise that seems will solely make him stronger within the years to come back. Talking on the Tour Championship in August about what he’s taken away from the final two seasons, he stated, “I simply love golf. I imply, it’s been irritating, however I really find it irresistible. As a result of once you’re in positions like this, once you’re capable of put your self in competition, whether or not it’s one spherical or two rounds or 4 rounds, that I simply, I do know I like being in these positions.”
Particularly when he comes out on high as he did in spectacular style on the Zozo Championship.
