PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — After greater than two years and 45 begins, Collin Morikawa lastly received once more on the PGA Tour. I confronted what felt like a equally lengthy wait on the ultimate gap of Sunday’s AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am. He stayed calm and drove his 4-iron into the inexperienced collar for a birdie and a one-shot victory.
Within the remaining spherical, which was stuffed with wind and lead adjustments, Morikawa responded properly to Scotty Scheffler’s daring assault, making two consecutive birdies on the best way down and ready 20 minutes for the all-important birdie for a 5-under 67.
He defeated Sepp Straka and Minwoo Lee by one stroke to win his first PGA Tour title for the reason that ZOZO Championship in Japan in October 2023.
The timing could not have been higher. He mentioned after the spherical that he would turn into a father for the primary time later this 12 months.
“We simply began telling individuals this week,” he instructed CBS. “And we mentioned one of the best ways to announce it to the world is that if I may go on the market and win.”
Scheffler began the ultimate day with an eight-stroke lead and completed 7 underneath by means of seven holes till the wind began to select up. He had three eagles in a spherical of 63, the final one coming from a 6-iron on the ultimate gap to 30 inches, tying him with Morikawa for the lead.
He did not suppose it was sufficient, however it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient.
Moments later, Morikawa sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the fifteenth to take the lead. He then hit a 6-iron to eight toes for birdie. However after a bogey on the par-3 seventeenth, together with his tee shot dangerously near the water to the left of the inexperienced, Lee completed birdie-birdie with a 65 to tie the rating.
There have been varied dramas, however the one which made me significantly nervous was the par-5 18th.
Within the entrance group, Jacob Bridgman wanted an eagle to have an opportunity at a playoff, sending his second shot over the bunker and onto the seashore. He lastly decides to flick the pebble, however it hits a rock and bounces into the ocean. He then returned to the spot the place the ball final crossed the hazard. In the meantime, Morikawa was ready.
It took 20 minutes from the time I hit my tee shot to the time I hit my 4-iron, however contemplating what was at stake and the biting chilly Pacific wind blowing in from the ocean, the wait was even longer.
Morikawa mentioned, “I elevated my tempo about 10 occasions till I reached the ocean.I simply needed to maintain transferring.” “Lengthy breaks like this aren’t good for anybody standing round. I used to be capable of hit a pleasant 4-iron and I want a drink.”
His 4-iron began over a piece of water and was blown into the suitable collar by the wind. Morikawa stuffed all of it the best way to his toes. Straka made a 10-foot eagle putt for a 68, and Morikawa tapped for the win.
Akshay Bhatia, who led by two strokes after 54 holes, had solely two birdies within the final 29 holes. He fell from the lead after 4 holes and was by no means capable of catch up, ending with a 72 and ending three again.
Scheffler shot a 72 on the primary day, closing in on the lead by 10 strokes, and at one level on Friday was as shut as 13 pictures behind. He remained a serious menace. He tied for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood (66), extending Scheffler’s streak of consecutive top-10 begins on the PGA Tour to 18 begins.
He grew to become the primary participant in tour historical past to file three eagles in a single spherical at Pebble.
“I needed to do one thing particular to provide myself an opportunity,” Scheffler mentioned. “On the again 9, I felt like I needed to go 21 or 22 (underneath). I performed a little bit extra aggressive than ordinary. General, it was a enjoyable day. These are weeks that I am pleased with. I felt like I used to be preventing to provide myself an opportunity.”
One in every of my regrets was hitting the wedge into the again pin on No. 15, solely to have it spin again to shut vary with a foot to go. It flew over the inexperienced with nice drive. He chipped to six toes and missed the par putt.
Morikawa shot a 62 on Saturday to come back inside two strokes of Bhatia, and though six gamers shared the lead at occasions in the course of the remaining spherical, he did sufficient to remain shut till he lastly scored.
The California native claimed his seventh win on the PGA Tour since turning skilled per week earlier than the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Seashore. The win at Pebble strikes him again into the world high 10.
Info from The Related Press was used on this report.
