Collin Morikawa, the two-time major winner, is bracing himself for a heightened challenge at Bay Hill during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Currently on the leaderboard’s brink, Morikawa is just one stroke ahead of Russell Henley. His Saturday performance saw him shoot a 67, which included a birdie on the rigorous par-four 18th.
Morikawa, who hasn’t tasted victory since the 2023 ZOZO Championship, saw his fortunes rise as Shane Lowry, the overnight leader, slid down the ranks. The Irish golfer shot a disappointing 76, leaving him four under by the end of the day, a predicament Wyndham Clark also found himself in.
However, it’s not just the competition Morikawa has to deal with. The final round is shaping up to be a formidable test, with Bay Hill’s greens becoming increasingly firm due to the lack of rain this week. These putting surfaces, according to Morikawa, are the toughest he’s encountered all year.
Morikawa elaborated on the challenge during his post-round press conference, “The greens have almost no friction. When a hole is cut, if you’re just off the straight line, it moves a lot more because it doesn’t actually hold the line. They’re so fast that you’re hitting it even softer than you usually would, requiring a significantly different playing approach.”
Morikawa also noted that adjustments were necessary from the previous day given the sunny conditions, adding, “It’s only going to get worse.”
Despite these challenges, Morikawa’s performance in the 2025 PGA Tour has been commendable. The world number five has consistently delivered a solid game, beginning his season with a second-place finish at The Sentry, followed by a 17th place at both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational.
A victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational would be a significant boost for the 28-year-old American, especially as he prepares for The Players Championship and Masters Tournament. Morikawa had a notable performance at Augusta National a year ago, finishing tied for third.
Reflecting on his third-round performance at Arnie’s track, Morikawa said, “I’m very pleased. I could look back and say I left a few birdie putts out there, but overall, it was pretty stress-free. I think I did a good job on the greens today, maintaining a good pace on the putts. These greens are slippery.”
As Morikawa anticipates the final round, he knows the challenge will be significant, but if his recent performance is any indication, he’s more than ready to face it.