In a dramatic twist at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Collin Morikawa lost his three-shot lead and narrowly missed the coveted trophy, falling to Russell Henley. Morikawa, who currently ranks fourth in the world, faced yet another close shave in his 2025 PGA Tour journey, his last victory being at the 2023 Zozo Championship.
The stakes were high in the final round at Bay Hill. Morikawa, initially leading by three shots, eventually missed the title by a single shot. His final round performance, an even par, left him at 10-under in Florida, while his fellow American, Henley, shot two-under to finish at 11-under.
Despite the setback, it is noteworthy that Morikawa is a two-time major champion, with victories at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in 2020 and 2021. As the Masters approaches, the 28-year-old’s form seems promising, albeit his recent loss might require some time to recuperate from, as hinted in his Instagram post.
Reflecting on his performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Morikawa stated on Instagram, “No excuses. Never had any, but always a nice reminder. Honestly though, this one stings.” This sentiment comes from a golfer who knows he has just missed a golden opportunity to secure his seventh PGA Tour title.
However, it wasn’t all Morikawa’s error that led to Henley’s victory. Henley exhibited a spectacular moment of skill that significantly shifted the tournament’s trajectory. Despite the setback, Morikawa can still take heart from his performance and his run in the 2025 season so far, which includes his second runner-up position.
Starting the year on a high note, Morikawa finished second at The Sentry, followed by back-to-back finishes of T17 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational. As the season progresses, the golfing world keenly watches as Morikawa continues to knock on the door of victory.
