Morikawa's Triumphant Return
Collin Morikawa has reasserted his status as one of golf's premier talents with a commanding victory at the 2023 ZOZO Championship. This win marks Morikawa's first PGA Tour triumph in two years, dating back to his last tour victory at the 2021 Open Championship.
The ZOZO Championship, boasting an impressive $8.5 million purse, witnessed Morikawa securing the winner's share of $1,530,000. The event unfolded from October 19 to October 22, attracting notable golfers like Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, who were among the participants vying for the title.
Morikawa's performance was nothing short of stellar, finishing at 14-under par, which gave him a comfortable six-shot lead over the runners-up. It was a display of golfing excellence that reminded spectators and competitors alike of his undeniable talent and poise on the course.
Noteworthy Finishes
The tournament featured a no-cut format, ensuring that all participants received prize money, a move that promotes competitiveness and inclusivity within the sport. Eric Cole and Beau Hossler shared the runner-up spot, each carding an 8-under par to earn $748,000 apiece. Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton, meanwhile, tied for fourth place at 7-under, each taking home $374,000 for their efforts.
A four-way tie for sixth place saw Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun finish at 6-under, each pocketing $275,187.50. The top ten was rounded out by Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under, earning themselves $221,000 each.
Further down the leaderboard, Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira ended the tournament in a tie for twelfth place with a score of 4-under, each receiving $178,500. Matt NeSmith finished alone in fifteenth at 3-under par, earning a payout of $151,640.
In a three-way tie for sixteenth place at 2-under were Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery, each taking home $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala, who tied for nineteenth place at 1-under, earned $112,710 each.
Additional Payouts
The payout structure continued to reward players across the board. Those who tied for twenty-first place at even-par took away $73,610 each. Players tied for thirty-first place at 1-over par had earnings around $46,167, while those tied for thirty-eighth at 2-over par earned $36,210 each.
A tie for forty-first place at 3-over saw players earning $27,710 each, and a 4-over score led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with those golfers earning $20,230 each. Players tied for fifty-first at 5-over par received $17,743.75 each.
Continuing down the list, players tied for fifty-ninth place scored 6-over par and earned $16,490 each. Tied for sixty-fourth place at 7-over, players received $15,725 each, and those tied for sixty-eighth at 8-over par took home $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. A tie for seventy-third place at 10-over par resulted in each player earning $14,280. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured $13,940, while Ben Taylor finished seventy-seventh at 20-over par, earning $13,770.
Reflection on the Tournament
This comprehensive payout structure not only ensures that every player is compensated for their participation but also underscores the ethos of inclusivity and reward for effort that is central to the modern game of golf.
For Collin Morikawa, the victory at the ZOZO Championship is a significant milestone. It signals a return to the top echelons of the sport after a quiet period. His dominant performance throughout the tournament served as a reminder of his potential and ability to compete at the highest levels. As the golf world looks on, Morikawa's resurgence could well be the beginning of another spell of dominance on the PGA Tour.
With this win under his belt, Morikawa will undoubtedly be