Morikawa holds off thrilling challenge to win Open C’ship
COLLIN Morikawa of the United States held off a thrilling challenge from Jordan Spieth to create history with victory in the 149th Open on his championship debut at a sundrenched Royal St George’s.
Morikawa, who won the 2020 US PGA Championship on just his second major start, held his nerve superbly on the closing stretch to become the first player to win two different majors at their first attempt.
A closing 66 gave the 24-year-old a winning total of 15 under par and two-shot victory, with Spieth also returning a 66 and world number one Jon Rahm doing likewise to share third on 11 under with 54-hole leader Louis Oosthuizen.
Morikawa began the day a shot behind Oosthuizen, but, with the South African making a stuttering start, Morikawa followed six straight pars with birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth to open up a threeshot lead over Spieth.
The former Open champion had fallen four behind with two early bogeys, but eagled the seventh and birdied the ninth to be out in 34 and emerge as Morikawa’s biggest rival.
The gap remained three as Morikawa and Spieth traded birdies on the ninth and 10th respectively, before a brilliant par save from over the 10th green kept Morikawa in command.
A brilliant up and down from left of the 15th gave Morikawa some vital breathing space and with Spieth unable to birdie any of the last three holes he could enjoy completing the formalities of an impressive win.
Oosthuizen had been hoping to become the first wire-towire winner of the Open since Rory McIlroy in 2014, 11 years to the day since he lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews.
But after dropping just his fourth shot of the week after missing the green with his approach to the fourth, Oosthuizen thinned his bunker shot on the par-five seventh into more sand to run up a costly six.
Morikawa barely missed a fairway all day as he made four birdies and dropped no shots, showing incredible composure late on as Spieth applied pressure down the stretch.
He never looked like cracking though and his fourth subpar round of the week saw him finish on 15-under 265 -- his remarkable consistency born out by the astonishing statistic of only four bogeys all week.
Spieth, who was bidding to win his fourth major and first since the 2017 Open, started his final round badly with two bogeys in his first six holes but an eagle at the seventh launched a gallant chase of Morikawa.
The packed galleries, enjoying a memorable finale after last year’s cancellation, roared on Spieth but despite a return to his best, he was unable to catch Morikawa, finishing 13 under, left to rue his bogey-bogey finish the night before.
Oosthuizen ended in a tie for third with Spain’s U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm, four shots back after a storming finish.
He led from round one and posted the lowest-ever Open total for 36 holes but wilted and finished with a one-over 71.
Morikawa had the luxury of a two-shot lead as he teed off from the 18th tee before striding down the fairway and twoputting for a victory that never looked in doubt to become the first player to win two majors on debut, having also claimed the 2020 PGA Championship.
“This is by far one of the best moments of my life. Look at all these fans, let’s hear it for you guys,” Morikawa said after receiving the Claret Jug.
“To see some of the best crowds I have ever seen I’m looking forward to making my trip every year.”
The last debutant to win the Open was American Ben Curtis in 2003, although whereas Curtis was ranked 396th at the time, Morikawa is the world number four.
He only turned pro in 2019 but the University of California graduate has now won two of his first eight majors.
“I’ve had belief in myself since day one that I turned professional. I do my homework Monday to Wednesday to make sure I know what I need to do,” he said.
Defending champion Shane Lowry finished in a tie for 12th as Olympic team-mate Rory McIlroy cut a disconsolate figure after a 71 containing four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on the 10th.
The 32-year-old, who has now gone seven years since claiming his last major title at Royal Liverpool, said: “I’ve made 17 birdies this week, which is more than enough to challenge to win this golf tournament. It’s just I make too many mistakes, and that’s the part that I need to try to get right.”
This is by far one of the best moments of my life. Look at all these fans. To see some of the best crowds I have ever seen I’m looking forward to making my trip every year. Collin Morikawa