Collin Morikawa’s form may have dipped in 2025, but he is still very much a fixture near the top of the game.
A former world number two, Morikawa broke through on the PGA Tour back in 2019 and has picked up five more wins since then, including both the PGA Championship and Open Championship.
Although it has not gone to plan for him over the past year, there is no question that he is still one of the sport’s most talented players.
Even through these tough times, he still holds a unique record on the DP World Tour – one that no other American has ever achieved.
Collin Morikawa stands alone as the only American golfer to win the Race to Dubai
The Race to Dubai, much like the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup, serves as the season-long points competition for the DP World Tour.
Historically, Collin Montgomerie is the biggest winner of the tournament with eight titles, followed by Rory McIlroy and Seve Ballesteros, each with six.
Although European golfers are more active on the tour, there have been plenty of non-Europeans who have left their mark, including Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.
But in over 50 years, only one American has lifted the Harry Vardon Trophy: Collin Morikawa.
After picking up wins at The Open Championship and WGC-Workday Championship earlier in 2021, Morikawa headed into the Middle East swing already well-positioned in the standings.
He then took part in both remaining events – the Abu Dhabi Championship and DP World Tour Championship – recording a three-stroke victory in Dubai.
He finished that year on 5,856.40 points, well ahead of Billy Horschel’s 3,716.20 tally for second place.
No American before or since has matched that accomplishment on the DP World Tour, not even Tiger Woods.
Scottie Scheffler could have secured the 2025 Race to Dubai
Morikawa’s Race to Dubai win is not just about strong play. It also takes a real commitment, especially for Americans.
For American golfers, it means being willing to travel beyond the US after the PGA Tour wraps up.
Even with the chance to win the Race to Dubai, many PGA Tour stars choose not to make that trip in November.
Take Scottie Scheffler, for example. He had a fantastic 2025 season, picking up both the Open Championship and PGA Championship titles.
If he had travelled for the Abu Dhabi Championship and Tour Championship in Dubai, he probably would have finished ahead of McIlroy and Marco Penge on points. But he chose not to go that route.
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