Bold claim: Collin Morikawa’s PGA Tour victory at Pebble Beach ends a 45-start drought spanning over two years, finally reclaiming his winning form on a dramatic final day. But here’s where it gets controversial: did the windy, ever-shifting leaderboard prove Morikawa’s experience and poise were the decisive edge, or did a few bold moves by rivals show the title was always within reach for contenders like Scottie Scheffler and Sepp Straka?
In a wild AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am finish, Morikawa steadied himself on the last hole, calmly striking a 4-iron to the green’s edge and sinking the birdie for a one-shot win. The round capped a tense, up-and-down Sunday that featured shifting winds and frequent lead changes. Morikawa finished at 5-under 67, one stroke ahead of Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee, earning his first PGA Tour title since the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023.
The victory came at an especially meaningful time for Morikawa, who revealed after the round that he and his partner would become parents later this year. “We just started telling people this week,” he told CBS, adding that winning would be the best possible way to announce the news.
Scheffler began the final day eight shots behind but surged with a stellar 63, including three eagles, only to fall short when Morikawa converted the crucial birdie on the 15th and followed with another birdie from 8 feet. A bogey on the 17th for Morikawa kept the tension high, as Lee closed with a 65 to tie for the lead momentarily.
The dramatic climax arrived on the par-5 18th. In the group ahead, Jacob Bridgeman needed an eagle to force a playoff, but an unlucky bounce off rocks sent his ball into the ocean, ending his chances. Morikawa faced a 20-minute wait before his 4-iron on the 18th could secure the win, a pause intensified by the cold Pacific wind.
“I paced to the ocean 10 times,” Morikawa laughed afterward. “These long breaks aren’t good for anyone, but I managed to execute a great 4-iron and deserved a cold drink.” He finished with a birdie, while Straka’s 10-foot eagle putt for 68 wasn’t enough, and Morikawa tapped in for the win.
Akshay Bhatia, who led by two shots after 54 holes, faded on the back nine, closing with a 72 and finishing three behind. Scheffler, despite his 10-shot deficit after day one and a Friday slide, remained a major threat, tying for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood after a 66, and extending his streak to 18 straight top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour.
Morikawa’s Pebble Beach win also marked a milestone for him personally and professionally: the Cal alumnus has now captured seven PGA Tour titles since turning pro just before the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, and the victory lifts him back into the world’s top 10.
Note: This recap draws from ESPN coverage and AP reporting.
