Collin Morikawa of the United States poses with the trophy after successful the match following the ultimate spherical of ZOZO Championship at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on October 22, 2023 in Inzai, Chiba, Japan.
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American Collin Morikawa referred to as successful the Zozo Championship in Japan “incredible,” a particular method to shut the season for a participant whose great-grandparents emigrated from the nation.
But more essential was a victory — wherever, any victory — after a 27-month winless streak on the PGA Tour that began prompting questions on his recreation.
He broke by Sunday with a 7-under par 63 for a six-shot victory on the Narashino Country Club simply exterior Tokyo.
“It feels so good, I can’t even explain it,” Morikawa mentioned of his sixth PGA Tour win. “I knew I was going to get here at some point. It’s like getting your first win, your first major.”
He mentioned he realized that folks have been asking questions on why he had not received for so lengthy. He mentioned the victory was additional particular since his spouse Katherine Zhu was in the gallery and gave him a kiss when he got here off No. 18.
“She hasn’t been to a win since — it’s been a long time since she’s actually been at the tournament since we won. So it’s nice to have her here,” he said.
Morikawa added that he hadn’t done much to change his game, but acknowledged “the thoughts in your head start piling up.” He said part of the challenge was not to overreact to losing.
“I had to really look back and ask myself what’s wrong,” he mentioned. “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 have been in second, six again with closing-round 70s.
Morikawa is cleary at house in Japan. He mentioned he arrived final week along with his spouse and so they started consuming their means by the Japanese capital — every thing from high-end to road meals.
“We spent four days, four full days just eating,” he mentioned. “Like, you know, visiting around, looking around Tokyo, but truly eating. We would eat at seven to eight spots. That’s a lot.”
Though his connections are distant, local fans almost claim him as their own. He doesn’t speak the language, his mother’s roots are in Hong Kong, but he does carry a Japanese family name and an interest in learning more.
“I knew at the beginning of the week that the fans out here are obviously rooting for the Japanese players,” he mentioned. “But I like to count myself as a part Japanese player — so I felt the love.”
Morikawa began two pictures behind 54-hole chief Justin Suh, who light badly trying for his first PGA Tour win. He completed with a 74.
Morikawa had 4 birdies on the entrance 9, constantly hit fairways, which he did not in the second and third spherical, and saved pulling away with three more on the again 9, together with one from 10 ft on the 18th.
“The putter got hot, which is really nice,” he mentioned. “I haven’t had that in quite some time.”
Morikawa has been one of golf’s most-watched players — one of the game’s best iron players — so even though he’s had several chances to win recently, not getting it done has drawn some attention.
His 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.
The only disappointment in 2021 was losing out in a playoff for a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Fellow American Suh had a one-stroke lead after 54 holes but couldn’t hold on.
Morikawa knows that feeling.
In January, he had a six-stroke lead after 54 holes of the Sentry Tournament of Champions, but wound up finishing second after a string of bogeys to finish.
Through what he called his “two-year drought” he mentioned his caddie J.J. Jakovac caught with him, reviewing video, overseeing lengthy placing classes, attempting to determine tweaks.
“He’s a friend, he’s a mentor, he’s someone I rely on, he’s someone I respect,” Morikawa mentioned. “He’s everything. I wouldn’t have — I wouldn’t be here right now without him.”
