It was surprising to see Collin Morikawa go winless last season on the PGA Tour — he’s trying to do something about that this week at the Tournament of Champions.
Morikawa got on a roll early on the back nine of the Plantation Course at Kapalua and reeled off six straight birdies starting at the 10th hole. He then added a seventh at the par-five 18th for a nine-under par 64 that gave him a share of the day one lead.
Morikawa took some steps to improve his putting and short game last year. He hired putting coach Stephen Sweeney and turned to former player Parker McLachlin for help with his short game.
“I just have answers,” Morikawa said. “Before when I was putting, it was like it was guess work. I might have putted well today and then thought I was doing something, but in reality it was something else.” Morikawa also made a putter change — he has a flat-stick from L.A. Golf in his bag.
There’s another huge name next to Morikawa at the top — Spain’s Jon Rahm. Rahm got off to a fast start. He made he turn in five-under par. He was seven-under through 12 and pretty much looked like he’d have a great shot at the solo lead. But a bogey at the 14th cost him a shot at 63, which would have tied the record for low first round score at Kapalua.
Rahm bounced back from the bogey with three birdies over his final four holes to join Morikawa at the top.
Rahm lost by a shot to LIV defector Cam Smith last year. Smith shot a record 34-under for four trips around the Plantation Course. “I can’t say much, man. I shot 33 under. I got beat by 34 under. That’s just what it is,” Rahm said after his round. “We both played really good golf. It was a great battle. Hopefully, if we get to that point again, hopefully it’s me and hopefully I end up winning by one.”
J.J. Spaun made it a threesome at the top of the 39-player field but there were big names lined up behind the co-leaders.
Golf-loving Tom Kim, who now lives in Dallas and is becoming fast friends with Jordan Spieth, jarred a wedge from 116-yards out at the par four sixth. That eagle jump-started his round. He added three more birdies over the final nine holes but hit one of the great shots of the day when his second into the par five 15th came to rest just inside six feet from the hole and he rolled in the putt for his second eagle of the round. Kim finished with 65 and was the only player at eight-under.
It was crowded at seven-under par 66. Major champions Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick headed a group of six at seven-under. They were joined by early starter Mackenzie Hughes along with Tom Hoge, Aaron Wise and Sungjae Im.
With no wind and pretty much perfect scoring conditions, every player in the field shot under par with the exception of Billy Horschel. Horschel struggled and finished with a three-over par 76 on the par 73 course.
