Collin Morikawa quickly won two majors championship and has knocked on the door for a third twice already this season. After struggling with his game and returning to his longtime coach, Rick Sessinghaus, Morikawa has been on a serious heater since the Masters in April. He hasn’t finished worse than T-16 in his last eight individual starts. That run helped him lock up one of four spots on the U.S. Olympic team and a chance to win gold in Paris.
But first his sights are set on silver — and the Claret Jug — which he won in 2021, closing with a bogey-free, 4-under 66 at Royal St. George’s in his championship debut, becoming the first player to capture two different majors on the first attempt. (He previously won the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.)
On the brink of the 152nd edition of the Open Championship, Morikawa, who is a Rolex ambassador, participated in a wide-ranging conversation through his partnership with the watchmaker, including how he loves to turn into an artist when playing links golf.
Collin Morikawa celebrates with the Claret Jug on the 18th green following his final round winning the Open Championship golf tournament. (Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports)
CM: I’d say my confidence is building. If I compare where I was at the beginning of the season, seeing the results over the past month and a half has helped. But I think the confidence has also come from not only the good results, but from me going back to simplifying things about the swing, the mental aspect and just looking at shots and executing the way I want and not trying to do too much.
Collin Morikawa (USA) plays an approach shift to the eighteenth green during the second round. (Chris Turvey/Rolex)
CM: There is no tournament like The Open. Not only is it where golf began, and all of the greats have placed their name on the Claret Jug, but it’s a place where golf is at its most creative. In today’s game, golf can become very repetitive. People like to perfect golf, but perfect it with numbers and technology. At The Open, it’s all about creativity. You feel the history when you step foot onto these amazing venues throughout the UK. When you’re able to do that, and be creative, you get to tap into how golf began. You have a ball, a stick and you make do with what’s in front of you. We get to turn into artists.
Collin Morikawa addresses the media in a press conference during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
CM: Links golf is very fun. It’s very fun because you have to hit a new shot every single time. That’s required at a lot of golf courses, but there are 50 different ways to play each and every shot. What makes The Open so unique is also just how drastic the impact your draw can have and whether you get good conditions or bad conditions. Courses can change in such quick fashion. One day 6 under could be a great score, where the next day level might be the best score out there. You really have to adapt to the changing conditions for an Open.
CM: To be honest, not that early. I remember Zach Johnson winning at St. Andrews [in 2015], and Jordan’s (Spieth) Open [in 2017].
CM: I have never been to Troon, but I’m excited to get there and learn about the course and the town.
CM: It all depends on weather. Weather is one of the biggest factors in an Open. It can make a long course play short, or a short course play long. If this course is going to be on the long side, we hope the conditions are in our favor to help make a lot of birdies.
Collin Morikawa admires the Claret Jug Trophy after winning the 2021 Open Championship at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent. (Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images)
CM: I’m very motivated. Knowing that I’ve been able to place my name next to the greats in golf is an absolute honor, but to do it for a second time would be an amazing achievement.
CM: Absolutely not. I still to this day don’t realize how special it is to win in your debut at two different majors. You get that chance to make your first start only once, so to have done it twice was really special. Backing up my first major victory at The Open in 2021 allowed me to keep believing in myself. Sometimes winning a tournament involves a lot of luck, but to have validated the PGA with the win at The Open playing really well down the stretch meant a lot. I still play rounds to this day thinking about the way I played on that final day at Royal St. George’s.
Max Homa and Collin Morikawa of the United States Team celebrate defeating the International Team during day four of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 25, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
CM: Being a part of the USA team is an amazing honor, and one of the big parts of winning is having team chemistry. We’re used to being individuals at most tournaments, but when we have these team events and we get to represent our country, it’s awesome. We’ve all got the same goal of beating the Internationals, and I’m hoping to get that chance again.
