Morikawa's Triumphant Return
Collin Morikawa has officially ended his two-year wait for a PGA Tour win by clinching the 2023 ZOZO Championship. The young golf sensation, whose last tour victory was at the 2021 Open Championship, showcased a masterful performance to secure the title with a comfortable six-shot lead.
Commanding Victory
The tournament, which boasted an $8.5 million purse, saw Morikawa emerge victorious with a stellar 14-under par. His triumph not only exemplifies his exceptional talent but also signifies a return to form for the golfer who had been eagerly awaiting a return to the winner's circle since his major championship win two years prior.
Morikawa's dominance at the event was evident as he led the field with poise and precision, ultimately earning a winner's share of $1,530,000. The ZOZO Championship, held from October 19 to October 22, featured notable golfers such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, who witnessed Morikawa's resurgence firsthand.
Runner-Ups and Top Finishers
Eric Cole and Beau Hossler were the runners-up at the event, tying for second place with commendable 8-under par finishes each. Their efforts were rewarded with substantial earnings of $748,000 apiece. Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place, just one stroke behind at 7-under, pocketing $374,000 each for their performances.
A quartet of golfers—Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun—tied for sixth place with scores of 6-under par, each taking home $275,187.50. Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under, earned $221,000 each, while Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira, who finished in a three-way tie for twelfth at 4-under, received $178,500 each.
Further down the leaderboard, Matt NeSmith secured fifteenth place with a 3-under par finish, resulting in earnings of $151,640. Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery tied for sixteenth place at 2-under, each taking home $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala rounded out the top twenty, tying for nineteenth place at 1-under and earning $112,710 each.
Payout Structure Promotes Inclusivity
The ZOZO Championship is unique in that it offers prize money to all participants due to its no-cut format. This payout structure ensures that every golfer who tees off is compensated, reflecting the inclusive and competitive spirit of the sport. Players who tied for twenty-first place scored even-par and received $73,610 each. Those who finished around the middle of the pack, tied for thirty-first and thirty-eighth places, earned approximately $46,167 and $36,210, respectively.
Even those who found themselves further down the leaderboard were rewarded for their participation. A tie for forty-first place at 3-over par yielded $27,710 per player, while a score of 4-over led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with each golfer earning $20,230. As the scores increased, the payouts marginally decreased, with those tied for fifty-first through sixty-eighth places receiving between $17,743.75 and $15,045, reflecting the tight competition throughout the field.
Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. The tie for seventy-third place at 10-over par resulted in each player earning $14,280. Tyson Alexander and Ben Taylor, who finished seventy-sixth and seventy-seventh with scores of 11-over and 20-over par, respectively, secured $13,940 and $13,770, rounding out the tournament's comprehensive compensation package.
Conclusion
Collin Morikawa's victory at the ZOZO Championship is more than just another win; it marks his emphatic return to the forefront of professional golf. With all eyes on him, Morikawa delivered a performance that will be remembered for its sheer dominance and control. As the golf world celebrates his success, many will be watching closely to see if this marks the beginning of another era of Morikawa's ascendancy in the sport.
The ZOZO Championship's commitment to rewarding all its players underscores the tournament's dedication to fostering a competitive yet inclusive