Collin Morikawa Grabs Zozo Championship

AP

12:57 JST, October 23, 2023

INZAI, Chiba (AP) — Winning the Zozo Championship in Japan was special for American Collin Morikawa, whose great grandparents emigrated from the country.

But more important was a victory — anywhere — after a 27-month winless streak on the PGA Tour as people began to ask questions about his game.

He broke through Sunday with a 7-under par 63 for a six-shot victory to win the Zozo at the Narashino Country Club just outside Tokyo.

“It feels so good, I can’t even explain it,” Morikawa said. “I knew I was going to get here at some point. It’s like getting your first win, your first major.”

He said he realized that people were asking questions why he had not won.

He said the win was extra special since his wife Katherine Zhu was in the gallery and kissed him when he came off 18.

“I had to really look back and ask myself what’s wrong,” he said. “What’s the reasoning behind finishing second — that versus a win. This win means the world. Being in Japan and being half Japanese. A lot has come through over the past week.”

Americans Beau Hossler and Eric Cole were in second, six back with closing-round 70s.

Morikawa started two shots behind 54-hole leader Justin Suh, who faded badly looking for his first PGA Tour win. He finished with a 74.

Morikawa had four birdies on the front nine, consistently hit fairways, which he didn’t in the second and third round, and kept pulling away with three more on the back nine, including one from 10 feet on the 18th.

Morikawa’s last PGA Tour title was the 2021 British Open — he also won the 2020 PGA Championship — and followed it a few months later by becoming the first American to finish as the European Tour’s No. 1 player, taking the DP World Tour Championship.