Collin Morikawa found his way back into the PGA Tour winner’s circle on Sunday, clinching a dramatic win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
It had been more than a year since Morikawa’s last PGA Tour victory, which came in October 2023, but he broke that streak on Sunday at Pebble Beach.
The 29-year-old took the lead on the 15th hole after draining a massive 30-foot putt, and from there he had to hold his nerve down the stretch.
Morikawa went on to win it in style, posting rounds of 68-66 over the weekend to finish two shots clear of Thomas Detry at -12 under par.
His drive found the middle of the fairway, but he then had to wait 20 minutes before playing his approach due to delays caused by Jacob Bridgeman ahead. Even with time standing still like it was frozen, Morikawa still managed to hit a brilliant shot and help secure his victory at Pebble Beach
Collin Morikawa shows he’s changed in his Pebble Beach win
Nick Dougherty, now a Sky Sports commentator, appeared on the Sky Sports Podcast recently to discuss Collin Morikawa’s win at Pebble Beach.
He was asked what stood out most about the two-time major champion’s performance over the weekend.
Dougherty pointed out that Morikawa had gone from a player everyone was excited to watch to someone flying under the radar. Before this win, there weren’t many headlines about him.
This is a major championship venue and a signature event on the PGA Tour, but beyond that, it clearly meant a lot to Morikawa. You could see how much he wanted it.
When you’re being told how good you are and your stock is high, it’s easier to play well. It becomes self-fulfilling.
Morikawa looked more humble after this win. He seemed grateful and genuinely happy, which was different from how he’s appeared in the past.
It wasn’t just his iron play that stood out; his overall approach showed maturity and perspective that hasn’t always been there before. This win felt like more than just another trophy—it felt like a step forward for him as both a player and a person.
What’s next for Collin Morikawa after Pebble Beach win?
His approach play was particularly sharp on the third day when he gained nearly seven shots on the field.
But numbers like that don’t often hold up week to week. Even for Morikawa, it’s tough to maintain that level of play over an entire season.
If he wants to get back to winning regularly on tour, it’ll come down to tightening up his work around the greens.
Pebble Beach showed he still has some ground to cover there. He lost strokes with the putter and was middle of the pack in strokes gained around the greens.
The fact is, even with a shaky short game, his ball striking is strong enough to keep him in contention more often than not.
But there will be weeks when that form doesn’t hold, and without improvements elsewhere, those are likely going to result in missed cuts.
If Collin Morikawa can bring his putting up to at least average, he has all the other tools needed to push Scottie Scheffler at the top of the game over the next few years.
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