DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | Becoming the first American golfer to win European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai – after his sensational triumph at the DP World Tour Championship – wasn’t really the peak Collin Morikawa that the world witnessed on Sunday.
The moment that probably defines the 24-year-old from Sacramento, California, came a few minutes after he sank his birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Already three shots ahead of his nearest challengers, the two-time major champion knew he had accomplished his mission. It would have taken a rare albatross by Rory McIlroy on the par-5 18th just to match him.
Morikawa lapped up the adulation and walked the short distance to the scorer’s tent. He opened the door, then remembered something and stopped. He held the door open for his playing partner Joachim B Hansen, who was still some distance away, to pass first.
It was a tiny gesture, probably ignored by most fans in the frenzy of his sixth worldwide win since turning professional late in 2019 and his dazzling on-course performances.
“I still think there’s a ton to work on. That’s just kind of how my mind works and how I work … I just want more.”
Collin Morikawa
But this, really, was quintessential Morikawa.
A smiling assassin. He’d probably slash you with his laser-sharp irons, and then apologize for his ruthlessness.
There is a single-mindedness about him, which is unmissable. There is no other way to explain how he could turn around a rather average round – one in which nothing seemed to be happening for the first 11 holes – and make five birdies in his last seven holes to win the tournament by three shots.
Morikawa claims to have immense respect for golf history. And yet, the only task he was focused on was winning the championship. The fact that he could become the first American ever to finish as the European No 1 was somehow pushed deep somewhere in his subconscious. If he won the DP World Tour Championship, it took care of everything.
The week that started well with the European Tour giving him honorary membership, ended even better with his achieving his stated objective – winning the tournament to become No 1 on the Race to Dubai.
Probably, the story of his triumph will always be remembered alongside the tribulations of Rory McIlroy.
For 68 holes, there seemed to be only one possible champion – the Northern Irishman. And then, on the 15th hole of Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course, a straightforward 371-yard par-4 which begs to yield birdies, McIlroy hit a peach of a wedge second shot that looked destined to leave a short birdie putt. In this instance, it smacked straight into the pin and then rolled back into the bunker. From there, he made a bogey, and followed it with a three-putt bogey on the 16th. Victory was impossible when he pushed his tee shot into the trees on the 18th and wound up with another bogey when his short par putt refused to go in.
A frustrated McIlroy took out his anger on his shirt, ripping it into tatters while walking from the 18th hole to the scoring desk.
On the other hand, Morikawa’s stroke of luck came in the second round. On the 17th hole with the island green, his tee shot hit one of the slender yellow stakes and stayed dry. He made his chip and putt for an improbable par.
However, you can rest assured that if luck is indeed involved in Morikawa’s future triumphs, he will be making all of it up himself.
After the win, he was asked how he plans to better his 2021.
“Win more,” was the instant reply. “I’m going to set the bar as high as I can get and keep going.
“I’m still not No 1 in the world. I still have a lot to work on in my game. Obviously, this week was good. I still thought I wasn’t playing amazing, but I made do. I was able to make some putts here and there. Hit some great chip shots.
“So, I still think there’s a ton to work on. That's just kind of how my mind works and how I work … I just want more. I know I’m going to enjoy this one a lot, especially since it’s at the end of the year, but there’s a lot more from me hopefully.”
The way the Official World Golf Ranking works, Morikawa will go past Jon Rahm if he wins Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on December 5 but would go back to being world No 2 the week after.
“I am definitely aware of that,” said Morikawa. “Hopefully, we can get there even if it’s just for that one week. I’m sure we’re still going to have many chances come next year.
“And being the world No 1 has been a goal ever since I could even remember and started talking about turning professional, and then you want to be the best in the world playing golf. And I’ve been very lucky. I’ve played very well. I’ve done some good things so far.
“But you know, it takes a lot to get to No 1 in the world. You need to be a well-rounded golfer, a well-rounded person to get there, and there have been a lot of great players that haven’t. And that just shows how tough it is.”
Top: Collin Morikawa "made do" with his game to steal away with a three-shot win and the Race to Dubai title.
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