SANDWICH, England – Tiger’s killer irons and instinct. Phil’s courage, smile and warmth. Fellow Californian Collin Morikawa invoked thoughts of the two most successful Golden State-bred golfers who came before him as he became the first player to win two different majors in his debut at The 149th Open. RELATED: Final scores | What’s in Morikawa’s bag | Why Morikawa changed irons One is reluctant to tie the 24-year-old’s achievements to these legends, such is their enormity, but it is impossible not to watch the now five-time PGA TOUR winner and be amazed. False dawns for new prodigies have come and gone but in Morikawa we seem blessed with a stayer. “He’s a special kid. I’m lucky to have him. He seems like he has been there 100 times and he hasn’t,” caddie Jonathan Jakovac says. “It just goes to his mental strength and his maturity, and you add the freakish ball-striking to an absolute stone-cold demeanor who is very comfortable in all situations … and you get someone special.” Let’s just take it all in, shall we? With his win at Royal St. George’s, Morikawa is the first player in the history of the game to win two different majors on their first attempt. His name stands alone. No Woods, Mickelson, Nicklaus, Hogan, Player or Palmer. Granted a pandemic of epic proportions made the achievement more accessible but it still should not be discounted. And it is just the first of a myriad of accolades. • It is a second major win in just eight major starts. • He joined Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth as the only players in the last 100 years with multiple major wins before age 25. • He joined Woods as the only players to win The Open and PGA Championship before age 25. • He became the seventh player since 1900 to win The Open on debut and first since Ben Curtis in 2003, also at Royal St. George’s. Jock Hutchison (1921), Denny Shute (1933), Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Lema (1964) and Tom Watson (1975) are the others. • He became the sixth winner of The Open to record four rounds in the 60s joining Greg Norman (1993), Nick Price (1994), Woods (2000), Henrik Stenson (2016) and Spieth (2017). • He joined Jones and Nicklaus as the only players to win multiple majors before age 25 when trailing entering the final round. • Become the third player to win multiple majors with final rounds of 66 or better joining Nicklaus and Johnny Miller. • His 265 total was one stroke shy of 72-hole tournament scoring record. Credit where credit is due. Furthermore Morikawa finished Sunday with a bogey-free 4-under 66 to best Spieth by two. It was just his second event playing links style golf after last week’s Scottish Open on the European Tour. And he had the courage to change three of his scoring irons AND change his putting grip from saw-style to conventional for longer putts pre-tournament. That is Mickelson-esque. The enormity of history wasn’t even a featherweight on his back as he coupled a Claret Jug with his 2020 acquisition of the Wanamaker Trophy at the PGA Championship. The Cal graduate won at Harding Park with no spectators and even though he burst out of a seven-way tie with a chip-in on the 14th followed by an incredible eagle on the drivable par-4 16th, the doubters said he wouldn’t have done so amidst a raucous gallery. But a vociferous 32,000 fans were at Royal St. George’s and they had earlier shown a distinct favoritism to fellow contenders Louis Oosthuizen and Spieth. They quickly warmed to Morikawa. He earned it. “He seems to perform better in big spots,” Jakovac says. “I think (the no crowd at the PGA) was a little overblown. You know the stakes of the PGA. You look at the leaderboard and we are tied with seven people for first in a major championship. There are no people there but we are in that moment knowing what is up for grabs. There’s no added pressure when there are fans … especially when you have the focus that kid has.” Tiger-esque focus. “I’m glad I look calm because the nerves are definitely up there. But you channel these nerves into excitement and energy, and that puts you away from a fear factor into this is something I want,” Morikawa said. And Tiger-like ball-striking. Morikawa ranked fifth in the field for greens in regulation, hitting 75%. Pre-tournament, he was gaining 1.5 strokes on average a round in Strokes Gained: Approach, leading the TOUR in the statistic by a healthy margin. “His dispersion is just better. He hits his 6-iron as close as others out here hit their 9-irons,” Jakovac explains. But he was up against Oosthuizen, who held the lead after the first three rounds, and leads the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting. Morikawa? He entered the week ranked 172nd on TOUR in putting. Yet he led the Open Championship with just 111 putts and didn’t have a three-putt all week. “Definitely one of the best putting performances of my life, especially inside 10 feet. I felt like it was as solid as it’s going to get. I don’t think I really missed many from that distance,” he said. “Everything about my stats say I’m not a good putter. I feel like I can get a lot better. But in these situations, I feel like everything is thrown off the table. Forget about all your stats, it’s who can perform well in these situations. “I’m going to try to figure out what worked today and use that for the future because I know I can putt well in these pressure situations. I’ve just got to keep doing that.” The intellect both on and off course is palpable. So too is his sincerity in his praise of others within his circle. He even had the crowd sing Happy Birthday to Jakovac as part of his victory speech. “I just enjoy these moments,” Morikawa said as the secret to success. “I talk about it so much that we love what we do and you have to embrace it. You have to be excited about these opportunities, and that’s how I looked at it today, especially coming down the stretch. “At 24 years old, it’s so hard to look back at the two short years that I have been a pro and see what I’ve done because I want more. I enjoy these moments and I love it, and I want to teach myself to embrace it a little more… but I just want more. “When you’re in these moments and you truly love what you do, which I love playing golf and competing against these guys, these are the best moments ever.” We should all enjoy his success because if the trend continues, we won’t need to compare him to others – his name will well and truly continue to stand out on its own.
Collin Morikawa smashes history at The 149th Open
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1st Round 3 Balls – H. Buckley / R. Shelton / T. Alexander | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robby Shelton | +160 |
Tyson Alexander | +175 |
Hayden Buckley | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Walker / P. Rodgers / A. Smalley | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Rodgers | +115 |
Alex Smalley | +170 |
Jimmy Walker | +280 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Lashley / S. Ryder / Z. Blair | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Ryder | +145 |
Nate Lashley | +160 |
Zac Blair | +230 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Long / J. Vegas / A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | +100 |
Jhonattan Vegas | +230 |
Adam Long | +260 |
1st Round Match-Up – B. Silverman v N. Lashley | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | -115 |
Ben Silverman | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Phillips / C. Gotterup / H. Springer | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chandler Phillips | +160 |
Chris Gotterup | +170 |
Hayden Springer | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Silverman / P. Barjon / K. Ventura | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | +115 |
Paul Barjon | +210 |
Kris Ventura | +230 |
Tournament Match-Up – B. Silverman vs C. Gotterup | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | -115 |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
1st Round Match-Up – C. Phillips v C. Gotterup | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
Chandler Phillips | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Barnes / T. Crowe / W. Furr | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Erik Barnes | +145 |
Trace Crowe | +185 |
Wilson Furr | +200 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Lindheim / A. Dumont De Chassart / K. Dougherty | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adrien Dumont de Chassart | +175 |
Kevin Dougherty | +175 |
Nicholas Lindheim | +175 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Gonzalez / H. Endycott / V. Perez | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | +120 |
Harrison Endycott | +185 |
Emilio Gonzalez | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. MacIntyre / R. Campos / R. Pereda | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robert MacIntyre | +110 |
Rafael Campos | +170 |
Raul Pereda | +320 |
1st Round Match-Up – V. Perez v R. MacIntyre | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Campillo / R. Hoey / R. Gibson | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jorge Campillo | +140 |
Rico Hoey | +140 |
Rhein Gibson | +275 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Nordqvist / A Lim Kim / Y. Saso | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Yuka Saso | +130 |
A Lim Kim | +170 |
Anna Nordqvist | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Stark / J. Kupcho / J. Shin | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jenny Shin | +130 |
Maja Stark | +200 |
Jennifer Kupcho | +210 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Vu / N. Hataoka / A. Furue | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | +170 |
Lilia Vu | +175 |
Nasa Hataoka | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Korda / C. Boutier / L. Ko | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | +130 |
Lydia Ko | +190 |
Celine Boutier | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Grant / H.J. Kim / R. Zhang | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Hyo Joo Kim | +170 |
Linn Grant | +175 |
Rose Zhang | +180 |
Hero Indian Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Smith | +650 |
Joost Luiten | +750 |
Keita Nakajima | +750 |
Matteo Manassero | +1100 |
Ewen Ferguson | +1400 |
Sam Bairstow | +1400 |
Adrian Otaegui | +1600 |
Romain Langasque | +1600 |
Fabrizio Zanotti | +2800 |
Alex Fitzpatrick | +3000 |
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2nd Round 3 Balls – D. Ravetto / A. Sandhu / P. Figueiredo | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
David Ravetto | +110 |
Ajeetesh Sandhu | +185 |
Pedro Figueiredo | +275 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – S. Baisoya / D. Lawson / R. Gouveia | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ricardo Gouveia | +165 |
Deyen Lawson | +170 |
Sachin Baisoya | +185 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – R. Khan / D. Van Tonder / Y. Sandhu | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Van Tonder | +120 |
Rashid Khan | +180 |
Yuvraj Sandhu | +250 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Goth-Rasmussen / J. Lyras / K. Pratap Singh | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
John Lyras | +170 |
Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen | +175 |
Karan Pratap Singh | +175 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – E. Kofstad / L. Scalise / J. Weon Ko | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jeong Weon Ko | +130 |
Lorenzo Scalise | +150 |
Espen Kofstad | +280 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Bairstow v A Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Fitzpatrick | -120 |
Sam Bairstow | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Luiten v R. Cabrera Bello | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Joost Luiten | -165 |
Rafa Cabrera Bello | +125 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – R. Cabrera Bello / A. Fitzpatrick / S. Kapur | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Fitzpatrick | -115 |
Rafa Cabrera Bello | +180 |
Shiv Kapur | +400 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Veerman v M. Kieffer | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Johannes Veerman | -110 |
Maximillian Kieffer | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Morrison v T. Lewis | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
James Morrison | -110 |
Tom Lewis | -110 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Veerman / A. Hidalgo / J. Morrison | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Angel Hidalgo | +150 |
Johannes Veerman | +170 |
James Morrison | +210 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Kawamura v A. Sullivan | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andy Sullivan | -120 |
Masahiro Kawamura | +100 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – E. Ferguson / M. Kieffer / A. Sullivan | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ewen Ferguson | +125 |
Andy Sullivan | +175 |
Maximilian Kieffer | +250 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Jarvis v M. Penge | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Casey Jarvis | -135 |
Marco Penge | +105 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Penge / M. Kinhult / L. Nemecz | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Lukas Nemecz | +165 |
Marco Penge | +170 |
Marcus Kinhult | +190 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Parry / D. Hillier / S. Bairstow | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Bairstow | +130 |
Daniel Hillier | +180 |
John Parry | +225 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Schneider / C. Jarvis / M. Schwab | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matthias Schwab | +150 |
Casey Jarvis | +180 |
Marcel Schneider | +190 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Kawamura / F. Lacroix / K. Kobori | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Frederic Lacroix | +130 |
Masahiro Kawamura | +180 |
Kazuma Kobori | +225 |
2nd Round Match-Up – B. Stone v G. Migliozzi | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Guido Migliozzi | -125 |
Brandon Stone | +105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Sharma v A. Otaegui | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adrian Otaegui | -120 |
Shubankar Sharma | +100 |
The Galleri Classic | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Steve Stricker | +350 |
Steven Alker | +650 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +1100 |
Jerry Kelly | +1200 |
Stephen Ames | +1400 |
Ernie Els | +1600 |
Alex Cejka | +1800 |
Brian Gay | +2000 |
KJ Choi | +2500 |
Kevin Sutherland | +2500 |
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Major Specials 2024 | |
Type: To Win A Major 2024 – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +125 |
Jon Rahm | +225 |
Rory McIlroy | +225 |
Viktor Hovland | +225 |
Brooks Koepka | +350 |
Ludvig Aberg | +350 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Collin Morikawa | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Wyndham Clark | +450 |
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The Masters 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +450 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Jordan Spieth | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +2500 |
Joaquin Niemann | +2500 |
Justin Thomas | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1400 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
Wyndham Clark | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
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US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Rory McIlroy | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +900 |
Viktor Hovland | +1000 |
Cameron Smith | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |