Workday Charity Open
Rising Star Morikawa Outguns Thomas In Dramatic Playoff
American Collin Morikawa tapped in a putt on the third playoff hole to outduel Justin Thomas in a wild Sunday finish and capture the US PGA Tour Workday Charity Open.
Morikawa, who had been the pacesetter through the first two rounds, rallied from three strokes down with three holes remaining to force the playoff at Muirfield Village Golf Club. He then stayed alive by draining a 24-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole immediately after third-round leader Thomas had made a jaw-dropping 50-foot putt for birdie.
"Amazing," said the 23-year-old Morikawa, who carded a final round 66 to finish on 19-under par 269 to win for the second time on the US PGA Tour, making up for a disappointing loss in another dramatic playoff finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge four weeks back.
World number five Thomas was trying to win for the 13th time on the Tour, after closing with a 69 that included two bogeys in his final three holes after beginning his round with a two-stroke lead over Viktor Hovland, with Morikawa three adrift.
"I am pretty pissed off, it is the only way to explain it. I had a three-shot lead with three to go and completely handed it over. Collin played great. He had a very tough hole at 17.” Thomas said, "We both made two great birdies on the first playoff hole. I had two chances to win this thing in regulation and on the second playoff hole and I didn't get it done."
Morikawa started Sunday's round three shots back after opening with a 65 and 66 to lead the first and second rounds, quickly fighting his way back to the top of the leaderboard with two birdies and an eagle in his first five holes.
He made three more birdies on the back nine including the par four 17. Morikawa used an eight iron to spin his approach shot to eight feet then made the putt and celebrated with a fist pump as he closed with a four-under 66.
The most dramatic moment of the round came on the first playoff hole as both players rolled in massive putts for birdies.
Thomas made a 50-foot downhill putt for what appeared to be the victory. But Morikawa wasn't going anywhere, draining his putt to stay alive from just inside 25 feet, sending it back to the 18th tee for a second playoff hole.
Morikawa sealed the win on the 75th hole, two putting on the green after Thomas missed the fairway off the tee and had to chip out from behind a small tree with his second shot.
"This is a huge kind of stepping-stone," Morikawa said. "We got number one (win) out of the way, we got number two, let the gates just open and let's keep going because obviously it was a tough loss at Colonial a month ago, but I learned a lot.”