After a disappointing Sunday at Augusta National this year, Collin Morikawa talked about how “greed” cost him the chance to win a Green Jacket.
Errors in the final stretch marked his destiny, specifically on holes 9 and 11, where he became too aggressive with his approach game.
But Morikawa, after shooting a 4-under 67 at the PGA Championship on Saturday, shares the 54-hole lead with Xander Schauffele. He also believes that he has learned from his previous mistakes.
“I’ve learned a lot over the past month, over the past two years, over the past five years as a professional,” Morikawa said.
Collin Morikawa plays the 17th hole during the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship. Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America via Getty Images
“I think that because of everything I have been through in recent years, I am prepared for these moments. A month ago (in Augusta), I felt like I was ready. He made a couple of mistakes. Tomorrow, hopefully, we won’t.”
After bursting onto the scene at TPC Harding Park in 2020, when he won his first Wanamaker Trophy, Morikawa added the Claret Jug to his resume the following year. It seemed like bigger ones would undoubtedly follow, but they haven’t.
Instead, he has come close on numerous occasions, including at this year’s Masters. He also has three other top-10 finishes in majors since his victory at the 2021 Open Championship.
“I just have to focus on myself,” Morikawa added.
“Look, I’ve played against all these guys. Not that any of these guys are new. “Everyone has their accolades within themselves and really anyone can fall that low.”
Valhalla has produced record low-scoring conditions, as Schauffele and Shane Lowry have shot 9-under 62 this week. Fifteen players are at 10 under par or better through 54 holes, a major championship record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Six players are also within two strokes of the lead, which, interestingly, hasn’t happened since the 2020 PGA Championship.
Despite this, Morikawa intends to stick to his game plan, which has worked well so far.
“I’ll do it once,” Morikawa said.
Collin Morikawa on the 18th green. Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images
“If I need to push, it will be on the last two or three holes if necessary. (I need to) stick to the game plan I’ve been working on; It has been running. That has me tied for the lead today after three rounds. So I have a job to do tomorrow at 6pm.”
Nothing compares to the pressure you feel on a Sunday afternoon in a major championship. Players will make bad shots, but it depends on how they recover. He who mitigates his mistakes by taking advantage of his opportunities usually emerges victorious.
Morikawa knows this, but he let his mind get ahead of him at Augusta National.
“I think looking back at Augusta, I felt strong about everything, but I feel like I could have had a little bit of self-talk before I went out to the first tee and really not gotten ahead of myself,” Morikawa said.
“If I make a bad shot, I don’t come out and try something new on the next shot because I made a bad shot. It’s just a bad swing, a bad effort, move on to the next one and try to execute the next one.”
Hopefully, for Morikawa’s sake, he arrives at Valhalla mentally sharp after giving himself a quick 60-second pep talk. But at the end of the day, the old saying in golf remains the same: the most important shot is the next one.
Jack Milko is a golf writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter. @jack_milko also.
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