Morikawa wins with flawless finish
MacKenzie Hughes finishes tied for sixth with Brooks Koepka
SANDWICH, ENGLAND — Collin Morikawa gazed adoringly at the claret jug, thrust it into the air and then gave it a kiss, a two-time major champion at age 24.
This time there were people to cheer him.
The American closed with a bogey-free, 4-under 66 and won the British Open in his debut Sunday, becoming the first player to capture two different majors on the first attempt.
His victory 11 months ago on his PGA Championship debut came in the first major with no spectators amid the pandemic.
So it was a very different scenario for Morikawa, a mature-beyond-his-years Californian, as he made one of the greatest walks in golf down the 18th fairway at Royal St. George’s, first to applause and then to a standing ovation.
After tapping in for par to win by two shots over Jordan Spieth, he gave a fist pump before applauding the spectators in the huge grandstand around the 18th green, part of a crowd of 32,000 people that made for the biggest gallery in golf since before the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am obviously very biased being from the U.S., but I’m seeing some of the best crowds I have ever seen out here,” Morikawa said in his victory speech on No. 18.
“Those are the moments, the few seconds that you embrace so much,” he added. “You look around, every seat is packed, everywhere is packed with people.”
They got to witness a player making a historic start to his major championship career.
Morikawa is halfway to the career Grand Slam after eight starts and the first player since Bobby Jones in 1926 to win two majors in so few appearances. He follows Gene Sarazen, Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Spieth in winning multiple majors before turning 25.
His total of 15-under 265 was a 72-hole record in 15 British Opens at Royal St. George’s.
“When you make history,” he said, “it’s hard to grasp, it’s hard to really take it in . ... At 24 years old, it’s so hard to look back at the two short years that I have been a pro and see what I’ve done because I want more.”
He did it with style amid immaculate weather on the links off Sandwich Bay, flushing shots with his irons and getting up-and-down on the rare occasions he found trouble. He called his putting display one of the best of his short career, turning a statistical weakness into a strength.
Starting the final round one shot behind Louis Oosthuizen, Morikawa was tied for the lead after four holes and then made three straight birdies on Nos. 7-9 to overtake the South African, who hadn’t trailed since the 12th hole of his second round.
MacKenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., shot a 1-under 69 and finished tied for sixth spot with American Brooks Koepka.
After starting the day in fourth, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., fell to 15th with a 3over 73.