Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I expect this kid to be Collin the shots for years to come
THE first major of the year was well worth the wait.
Watching a PGA Championship behind closed doors was strange, but the players responded to deliver an enthralling Sunday night’s viewing.
A west coast major is always a gruelling watch because of the time difference, but the drama of a first time winner made up for the lack of sleep.
Collin Morikawa secured his maiden major in only his 29th start and I strongly suspect it’s just the latest staging post of a journey that leads to the Hall of Fame.
This guy is the real deal and it struck me how assured he was in interviews after winning last month’s Workday Open. He is cut from a slightly different cloth.
Many talented kids break onto the pro circuit but there is one attribute that can separate them from the pack. That’s attitude, and Morikawa has it in abundance.
It’s easy to forget the Californian – who is up to fifth in the world rankings – is still
One attribute that can separate talented kids from pack is attitude & he has it in abundance
only 23. The last three men to win their first PGA Championship at the age of 23 were Mcilroy (2012), Woods (1999) and Nicklaus (1963). In just over a year as a pro, he has one Major, two PGA Tour wins, six top-10s and only one missed cut. Only Tiger had better figures this early in his career. Morikawa had a similar upbringing to Woods and you can see how sports psychology at a young age has helped him develop the performance mindset he boasts today.
I wrote a couple of weeks back that Morikawa has the potential to carve out a long and successful career because of his style of golf. His iron play is metronomical and unlike Dechambeau
he isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel.
He played the weekend in a championship record 129 shots to break free from a chasing pack that had seven tied for the lead early on the back nine.
His shot selection at the 16th hole was decisive, but quality and consistency were key.
He was the most accurate driver of the ball, he led the field in overall strokes gained and he also bossed the putting category. His overall game was on point.
There is so much talk today about power that the art of precision seems to have been lost in the conversation, but not with Morikawa. Taylormade signed him from college because his ball striking stats were superb and they quickly decided he was a ‘can’t miss’ talent. How right they were.