ATLANTA — When Collin Morikawa heard his name called on the first tee Friday, he was seven strokes behind world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who had dominated the newly restored East Lake the day before.
Morikawa knew that Scheffler would undoubtedly be roaming the premises and that he needed to play aggressively to have any chance — he's too good a player not to — but the California native also knew he needed to stick to his game plan and not focus on Scheffler's big lead.
Mission accomplished.
Morikawa shot a respectable 8-under 63, his lowest score of the week at the Tour Championship. Despite Scheffler frequently dropping the ball in front of him, especially off the tee, Morikawa looked in control of his game. The difference in driving distance in Friday's final pairing didn't faze Morikawa, as did the odds he faced.
“He's a really good player, so I know he's going to keep hitting it low and making birdies,” Morikawa said of his playing partner.
“I've seen it firsthand. I've seen it for years. For me, it's just about keeping your foot on the gas and sticking to your game plan.”
Morikawa had nine birdies on Friday, two more than any other player, but he bogeyed the par-3 11th hole, which the Tour teed up because the green was so firm. The hole is just 174 yards and a short iron for most players, but Morikawa hit the green in the air and missed an up-and-down attempt.
“It just wasn't a very good bogey,” Morikawa said.
“Especially since I felt pretty good throughout the round.”
He had good reason to do so.
Morikawa shot 4-under 31 after the first nine holes, highlighted by a stellar approach on the par-4 seventh hole. After Scheffler smashed a 43-yard shot wide of Morikawa, Morikawa hit his second shot to 3 feet, 5 inches for birdie, the second of his three consecutive par-breakers.
A mistake on the 11th hole was followed by more birdies on the back nine.
On the par 4 13th hole, Morikawa chips in for birdie Meanwhile, Scheffler was failing to rise from his fried egg-like position in the sand. A two-stroke swing extended Scheffler's lead to seven strokes to five, and things suddenly got interesting.
The score was cut to four at the next hole, the par-5 14th. Morikawa made a birdie, but Scheffler couldn't take advantage. Scheffler was content with par, and Morikawa headed to the 15th tee at 15 under.
The match was then halted for 90 minutes due to a lightning delay.
“To be honest, the last three holes, after a break like that, you don't lose your rhythm, but you do lose your energy,” Morikawa said.
Morikawa stayed focused, even after Scheffler hit into the flagstick on the par-4 16th. A birdie there put Morikawa back in the lead, to five strokes. But Morikawa knew he had to keep pushing, and he closed the gap to four strokes again with birdies on the 17th and 18th. Scheffler also birdied the par-5 18th.
“I just stuck to my game plan,” Morikawa emphasized.
“Honestly, I was just happy I continued to hit shots and made a lot of putts today.”
He did so.
And now Morikawa has a slim chance of winning the FedEx Cup. He may still be way behind at this point, but he nearly cut that lead in half on Friday, which is a great accomplishment considering the big task ahead of him. If Morikawa sticks to his game plan and keeps making putts, he might just overtake Scheffler after all.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
