{"id":420659,"date":"2020-08-10T00:45:16","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T04:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/?p=420659"},"modified":"2025-04-23T16:38:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T16:38:05","slug":"collin-morikawa-pga-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/golf\/collin-morikawa-pga-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Collin Morikawa Leads Golf’s Next Wave of Young Talent"},"content":{"rendered":"

What were you doing at 23-years-old? From finishing university to working a boring summer job, winning a major championship wasn’t probably on the list. Collin Morikawa didn’t just graduate from the University of California-Berkeley but in the 14 months as a professional golfer, he has three PGA Tour wins, including a major championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All at the age of 23.<\/p>\n

“I feel very comfortable in this position,” Morikawa said. “But it was going to take a very, very good round today, and I knew with the leaderboard the way it was looking and everyone out there, you just had to play well.”<\/p>\n

***<\/h2>\n

In a crowded leaderboard on Sunday at TPC Harding Park, Morikawa demonstrated tremendous resolve. Like he was an expert at golf’s biggest events.<\/p>\n

Only this was Morikawa’s first time experiencing a weekend at a major. Morikawa posted a 65-64, the lowest 36-hole score on a major championship weekend in men’s golf.<\/p>\n

It was far from easy for the California native. Halfway through the Back 9 on Sunday, there was a seven-way tie for the lead at 10-under-par, including major winners Dustin Johnson and Jason Day.<\/p>\n

Morikawa never lost confidence. He already made critical par saves on the Front 9, including a 22-footer on the first hole.<\/p>\n

“Those are huge, especially for me when I make a putt like that, I feel like I can make anything on the golf course,” Morikawa said.<\/p>\n

***<\/h2>\n

Even after disappointing iron shots to the green on 13 and 14, Morikawa was confident he could seize the moment to break away from the pack.<\/p>\n

And it happened, chipping in on the 14th hole from just below the green.<\/p>\n

“It was a huge turning point on 14, and it was one of those chips where I stepped over it, and I was like this is going in,” Morikawa said. “This chip just feels like it’s going to go in, and actually when I hit it, I didn’t think it was going to go in. I almost started stepping forward because I thought it was going to be a little short right, and you just get a couple of extra rolls and there you go, you’re making birdie.”<\/p>\n

If TPC Harding Park is a “big boy” golf course, then Morikawa’s “big boy” moment came on the driveable par-4 16th hole. Only 289 yards in the final round, Morikawa and his caddie, Jonathan Jakovac, committed to using driver.<\/p>\n

A shot similar to Morikawa’s tee shot at the 14th of Muirfield Village a few weeks ago, it landed on the green, six-feet from the pin for eagle. Morikawa drained it, en route to winning his first major.<\/p>\n

The chip-in at 14 and the eagle at 16 cemented Morikawa’s PGA Championship legacy. Even more impressive, is he did this at 23 years old, with so many golfers breathing down his neck.<\/p>\n

\n

Making par 4s look like par 3s.@Collin_Morikawa<\/a> is so smooth. #PGAChamp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3gpJWkicAs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

14 months ago, Collin Morikawa attended his commencement at the University of California-Berkeley. Afterward, he began his professional career in Canada.<\/p>\n

Since then, Morikawa made over $6 million in earnings, with three PGA Tour victories, including Sunday’s PGA Championship.<\/p>\n

\n

Jack.
Tiger.
Rory. <\/p>\n

and now …<\/p>\n

Collin. pic.twitter.com\/iw2LBXEgrO<\/a><\/p>\n

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n