Morikawa pips Thomas in gripping play-off duel
DUBLIN: Collin Morikawa narrowly avoided another play-off heartbreak on Sunday, defeating Justin Thomas in a tightly contested bout at the Workday Charity Open in Ohio.
The 23-year-old, who suffered a playoff loss at the Charles Schwab Challenge last month, hung on to claim his second PGA Tour win in just 24 starts after his fellow American Thomas bogeyed on 16 and 18 to send the pair into extra play.
“Justin wasn’t going to give it to me. He was fighting through the entire day,” said Morikawa after clinching the win. “I’m excited right now. I’m so happy.”
Tied at 19-under-par 269 after four rounds, the pair put on a putting masterclass on the first play-off hole for birdies, with Thomas letting out a roar after sinking a more than 50-foot putt.
But Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner who had been flawless through the first three rounds at
Muirfield Village Golf Club, missed the fairway on the third play-off hole and got stuck behind a tree, and it was Morikawa who kept his nerve for the win.
“Those three holes were a grind, obviously Justin making that birdie putt on that first play-off hole, I had to make it, or else we go home again,” said Morikawa.
“I just got a little more comfortable throughout the play-off. Two play-offs now, and finally got one done.”
It was a bitter loss for Thomas, however, who had a two-stroke lead over Norwegian Viktor Hovland going into Sunday and had appeared nearly unstoppable as only the third player ever to go bogey-free through 54 holes at Muirfield.
“I just can’t beat myself up, although it’s going to be pretty hard not to, at least the rest of this afternoon,” Thomas told reporters. “I just need to execute better.”
The Workday Charity Open is the first
of back-to-back events at the Jack Nicklaus designed course.
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES
(Morikawa won in play-off, par-72, USA unless stated)
269 — Collin Morikawa 65-66-72-66, Justin Thomas 68-66-66-69,
273 — Viktor Hovland (NOR) 69-67-66-71
274 — Chase Seiffert 68-69-70-67
276 — Gary Woodland 73-68-66-69, Ian Poulter (ENG) 68-69-69-70