After a two-year absence, Cal-Berkeley alum Collin Morikawa returned to the winner’s circle at a special place.
Morikawa, the winner of the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park, posted a 6-under 63 at Narashino Country Club just outside Tokyo to win the 2023 ZOZO Championship.
Morikawa became the first player since Rory McIlroy to shoot a final-round 63 or lower to win by six or more strokes. McIlroy shot 61 to win the 2019 RBC Canadian Open by seven shots. For Morikawa, the win also came in the country where his great grandparents lived.
“It feels so good, I can’t even explain it,†Morikawa said of his sixth PGA Tour win. “I knew I was going to get here at some point. It’s like getting your first win, your first major.â€
While his roots go back a few generations, Japanese fans embraced Morikawa. His previous last victory had come at the 2021 British Open.
“This win means the world,†he said. “Being in Japan and being half Japanese.â€
