Morikawa’s Triumph at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — After 28 months without a win, Collin Morikawa’s experience at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday brought back the challenges of competition.
In a windy final round, he shared the lead with five other players. Scottie Scheffler, in particular, nearly turned the event on its head with a surprising performance.
Taffer Still found himself stuck on the par-5 18th fairway, waiting around 20 minutes as the chilly Pacific air streamed in from the ocean. Jacob Bridgman struggled to play from an awkward spot by the beach, eventually sending his shot into the water.
He jokingly mentioned he walked back and forth to the beach about ten times.
“I had my mind on more than just golf,” Morikawa shared. “With such a beautiful backdrop, it was actually quite easy to relax. My focus shifted to warming up rather than just the shots ahead.”
He found his rhythm when it counted, taking the lead with consecutive birdies and sealing his final birdie with a remarkable 4-iron from 235 yards, letting the wind guide his shot back towards the green.
Morikawa finished strong with a two-putt from the collar, posting a score of 5-under 67 to secure a one-stroke victory over Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee.
“It was a tough field and a competitive leaderboard. I was keeping an eye on it all day,” Morikawa remarked. “Nailing those last two shots felt incredible.”
He wrapped up with a total score of 22-under 266. It’s been a long wait since his last victory at the ZOZO Championship in Japan back in October 2023, during which he participated in 45 events.
Morikawa expressed a desire to approach golf differently now, seeking enjoyment rather than just focusing on technique, and shared exciting personal news—he and his wife are expecting their first child this spring.
“There’s a lot more to life, and so much to enjoy,” he noted.
Scheffler entered the final round with an eight-stroke lead, starting strong with three eagles in a round of 63, ultimately tying with Morikawa. His last eagle came from a 6-iron on the final hole, bringing him alongside Morikawa.
“I was really aware of Scottie’s game today. He’s a phenomenal player,” Morikawa noted.
Scheffler felt he needed to do more, but was left wishing for another chance.
After sinking a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th to take the lead, Morikawa followed up with a great 6-iron to set up his next birdie. However, a bogey on the par-3 17th, where his tee shot came perilously close to the water, allowed Lee to finish with two birdies and tie the score.
There was palpable tension, especially while Morikawa waited on the par-5 18th. The anticipation stretched for 20 minutes before he finally hit his shot with a 4-iron. “That was a great shot,” he reflected. “And I could really use a drink now.”
Akshay Bhatia, who had led after 54 holes, struggled to maintain his position, finishing with a score of 72 and dropping three strokes behind.
On the opening day, Scheffler shot a 72, momentarily losing ground but remained a significant threat, ultimately tying for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood (66), extending his streak of top 10 finishes to 18 consecutive events on the PGA Tour.
“I knew I had to do something special to create an opportunity,” Scheffler explained. “I felt I needed to aim for 21 or 22 under. I played a bit more aggressively than usual. All in all, it was an enjoyable day. I felt like I was battling for a chance.”
One moment of regret for him was hitting a wedge into a tricky spot on No. 15, which spun back to an awkward distance of just a foot away, proving costly when he missed the subsequent par putt.
On Saturday, Morikawa had shot a 62, narrowing the gap to two strokes behind Bhatia. During the final round, a group of six players found themselves in shared territory, but Morikawa pulled ahead to seal the deal.
The California native celebrated his seventh win on the PGA Tour, which comes just weeks after he turned professional before the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. This victory has launched him to No. 5 in the world rankings.
