Collin Morikawa claimed his first PGA Tour win for two years with a storming victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
The 26-year-old American began the final day two off the lead but a seven-under-par round of 63 at Chiba carried him to victory by six shots ahead of Eric Cole and Beau Hossler.
Morikawa, who is of Japanese heritage, carded seven birdies and no bogeys in a near perfect final round, finishing off in style with a birdie on the 18th for a 14-under par total.
"This has been one of those tournaments -- there's a few tournaments that are highlighted on my schedule, whether it's L.A., Tiger's event at the Genesis, or this one, you know, when you have something to look back on, right? Being half Japanese and looking back at that and just being able to connect with the people out here, it means the world.
"When you're able to just kind of touch on that little aspect a little bit more, sometimes it pulls a little bit more out of you. When you're able to represent the United States, right, whether it's at the Ryder Cup or the Olympics, it just drives you that much more. I knew at the beginning of the week that the fans out here are obviously rooting for the Japanese players, but I like to count myself as apart Japanese player in that, so I felt the love. The fans have been incredible and I look forward to coming back many, many more
times."
It brought him a first win since he claimed the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November 2021, which followed on from his victory at the Open the same year and was his sixth win on the PGA Tour.
"It was incredible. Yeah, it feels incredible. Every win's so different, and every experience, whether it's winning or losing, you learn a lot, but this one just meant the world. I mean, obviously having this kind of two-year drought, you know, just struggling at times, not really contending, to do what I did through this entire week, Thursday, Friday, and then how I started my round yesterday with a double bogey, it just -- that's the golf I miss playing. To see that and to see it again, it's very exciting kind of just to close out this
year and head into next year."
Morikawa won his first major title at the PGA Championship in 2020 in only his second appearance at one of golf’s four biggest events, a year after his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Barracuda Championship.
He was the first-round leader at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club but seemed to have dropped out of contention after a disappointing second-round 73 and then a poor start to his third round but he finished it with five birdies from the final six holes to put himself in a good position going into Sunday.
PGA Tour Rookie Eric Cole birdied his final two holes for a 70 to collect his second career runner-up finish.
Fellow American Beau Hossler also shot a 70 for his share of second place at 8-under.
