As the Players Championship approaches, all eyes are on two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, who has been dominating the greens with his exceptional performance. Since the beginning of 2024, Morikawa has been coming agonisingly close to victory, yet just missing the mark on the PGA Tour.
The 28-year-old golf sensation’s unparalleled skill was on display at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, where he secured his most recent second-place finish, just one stroke behind champion Russell Henley at Bay Hill. The statistics speak volumes about Morikawa’s prowess; he leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained and tee to green in 2025, as reported by the PGA Tour website. He also put on a remarkable show at The Sentry, securing second place, while Hideki Matsuyama set a new record for the lowest score to par at Kapalua.
However, despite his undeniable talent, Morikawa has been struggling to clinch victories, with his last triumph dating back to the 2023 ZOZO Championship. Victory at the Players Championship has been eluding him in the early stages of his career.
In the lead up to this week’s Players Championship, Morikawa candidly shared his appreciation for TPC Sawgrass during a media interaction. He enthusiastically outlined why he considers it among the top courses played throughout the year.
“TPC Sawgrass is truly a test of one’s golfing skills, demanding excellence from the tee to the green. Nothing about this course is easy,” said Morikawa. “Like last week’s course, where even a par five could lead to bogeys in a blink, this course also poses similar challenges. While there are some holes that can be taken advantage of, one needs to play exceptional golf to emerge victorious.”
Considering Morikawa’s performance at the Players Championship, it’s surprising to note that he has not yet secured a top 10 finish at TPC Sawgrass. His best performance so far has been a 13th place finish in 2023, and he has only managed to score below 70 in three of his 14 rounds on this course.
But with the momentum firmly on his side, Morikawa is a force to be reckoned with. He has two second-place finishes and four top 20 finishes in his last four events. If he can channel the disappointment from his near-miss at Bay Hill into motivation, it’ll be a formidable challenge for anyone to match his pace in the coming days.
As the Players Championship unfolds, golf enthusiasts worldwide will be closely watching Morikawa’s performance, in anticipation of yet another thrilling display of his golfing prowess.
