Among the thousands of travelers working their way through busy Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport on Monday was a young man in shorts, tee shirt and tennis shoes, toting his backpack, a small overnight bag and a rolling locker-style small box on wheels — inside was the Claret Jug (actually a replica).
It’s just one of the many reasons to really like Collin Morikawa, a humble young guy who just happens to be the new Champion Golfer Of The Year.
He won the Open Championship on Sunday afternoon at Royal St. George’s with a ball-striking, short-game, putting clinic that was purely surgical. He was the coolest guy on the planet, focused like all-get-out and never flinched on his way to a second major championship in just eight appearances.
To say Collin Morikawa is a special talent is an understatement. While many of the big names in golf were on their charter, private jets, Collin flew back to the U.S., commercial.
He’s now the third-ranked player in the world rankings, right behind No. 1 Jon Rahm and No. 2 Dustin Johnson. And you wonder how D.J. is even No. 2, he hasn’t won in 2021, missed the cut at The Masters and PGA, tied for 19th at the U.S. Open and tied for eighth last week at Royal St; George’s thanks to a Sunday 67. Ho-hum.
Morikawa now has that major and a WGC win and top 10s at the PGA and U.S. Open. Impressive? You bet. As impressive as he is as a player, he’s more impressive as a person. He handled the acceptance speech on Sunday afternoon like a trained speaker. Didn’t give it the old “I haven’t got the words” breakdown. He thanked those who were important, his family, girlfriend and caddie Jonathan Jakovac. “He’s been with me my entire career,” Collin said and that normally would sound like a long time but Collin’s “career” now spans exactly 24 months as a professional.
Twenty-four months? Two majors already? Seriously good stuff.
Next up for Collin? The Olympic golf competition starts next week and he’ll be there for team USA.
I’m going. I’m so excited. It’s going to be one of the best things of my life,” Morikawa said after he made team. “To think back that I was an amateur two years ago, literally two years ago, and to be on this team and to be heading to Tokyo puts a smile on my face.”
Watching this kid can put a smile on anyone’s face. He does it old-school. He’s not chasing distance. Yeah, bombers can get closer to the green but you still have to make the putts and he made the putts last week, especially on Sunday afternoon. His middle name should be “Clutch.”
He was 172nd in Strokes Gained Putting coming into the Open Championship but he made adjustments in Scotland — he added weight to his putter and went with a conventional grip on longer putts, the dreaded “paintbrush” on shorter ones.
“The best thing about him is his head,” explained the guy who knows his game best — his trusty caddie Jonathan. “I know the courses, but he thinks like a caddie out there, which is cool,” Collin’s bagman added. “He doesn’t play too conservative; he plays smart. He’s very methodical about the way he plots it around.”
After the Olympics, where it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Morikawa medal, there’s a WGC event in Memphis then the FedEx Cup playoffs.
And, by the way, Collin Morikawa just happens to be your FedEx points leader.
Pretty darn good for a pro with 24-months of experience.
4 Comments
baxter cepeda
Collin Morikawa has earned being on top of the world right now. His accomplishments are already historic.
Still Not taking anything away from the guy, but let’s be realistic: golf is extremely deep these days. As a group these guys are better than ever. The only real king in golf these days is parity.
Everything says Collin will do very well moving forward, including in Tokyo. But he could also easily start getting edged out like Louie.
Jordan addressed Morkikawa is well equipped to handle ‘bumps in the road’ which are certain to come. They already have come for the tour pro of 24 months. He spent most of the last year struggling with the flat stick. He was sublime putting at Royal St George’s greens with no wind.
But many questions remain:
Will he putt well on fast greens in the states?
What would have been if it was windy at the Open, as most Opens tend to be?
Everything came together again for the La Canada man, but this crazy game and morikawas long list of contemporaries will no doubt conspire against him, as is the case for everyone else in tour golf these days.
Lucky for Morikawa he has the tools to handle adversity. He likely knows he needs to make sure all the praise right now doesn’t derail him. Praise is probably going to be his biggest challenge. Praise means satisfaction. And satisfaction often means loss of hunger.
And Of course we all know It’s a very fine line between praise and ‘what have you done lately?’
That being said, as Jordan seems to be saying, Collins mind is equipped to handle the tough times. It is the main reason it’s easy to predict more success for him.
But with all the amazing depth in this crazy game, he’s going to have to quickly return to that mentality of earning it one big event at a time.
His first crack is immediate at a little event known as the Olympics. He has a great chance to not only medal, but to win gold.
Morikawa knows it but must remember amidst all the praise that even in an Olympics field about the third the size of a regular tour event, and with many players way down in the rankings, nothing is guaranteed in golf; it’s only earned.
If collin can just remember that—easier said then done— the next big thing for the champion golfer of the year can very well be bringing back some gold to the US of A.
Go USA!
Tom Edrington
Lousy scenario in Japan for these Games, COVID running wild, athletes already testing positive; I’m not real excited about the Games, no spectators, no families, no friends, NO anybody and that creates one rotten atmosphere, still talk that some events could be cancelled; As for Collin, his game translates to many, many venues; two majors in eight tries? And you’re throwing water on him Baxter! What he’s shown AND most important, is that he’s a CLOSER (coffee is for closers only!!) Tiger was a good closer when he had the lead, I think the Masters win was the only one where he wasn’t leading going into the final round; Hard no to be bullish on Collin winning double-digit majors — he’s got another solid 16 years, minimally, that’s 64 more major opportunities. Xander hasn’t won any, Reed’s gone by the wayside, Rory hasn’t won one in seven years, D.J.? Jon Rahm would win 10 or more is his putting will allow him.
baxter cepeda
I don’t feel I’m out putting him down. Expecting Double digit majors is building him up too much. The guy is good but that’s nuts Tom.
Tom Edrington
I’m simply doing the math and Collin is just getting the hang of these courses, he hasn’t seen them and his ability to adapt and succeed is impressive….I like his chances..