Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion, is likely still reflecting on how he missed out on the Arnold Palmer Invitational title, despite leading significantly well into the final round at Bay Hill. His performance was undeniably impressive, yet he fell short of clinching the title, adding to the frustration of playing arguably the best golf on the PGA Tour in 2024 without securing a victory.
Morikawa began the final round of the invitational with a one-stroke advantage. As the day unfolded, many of his competitors dropped behind, and it seemed he would maintain his lead. However, two costly bogeys on the final nine holes provided a golden opportunity for Russell Henley to snatch the most significant victory of his career to date.
Over the years, Morikawa has earned a reputation as one of the world’s best iron players, a skill that was unfortunately absent during the final round at Bay Hill. According to the PGA Tour website, Morikawa’s approach play saw him lose over a shot to the field on Sunday.
However, it wasn’t his iron play that cost him the game. Instead, it was a critical driving error at the 16th tee that could be seen as the weekend’s pivotal moment. Morikawa’s failure to hit the fairway effectively robbed him of the chance to reach the green in two strokes.
Ryan Lavner, speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, pointed to Morikawa’s continual struggle with the 16th hole as a significant factor in his downfall. Despite leading the tournament from a strokes-gained tee to green perspective, Morikawa’s inability to conquer the 16th hole was his ultimate downfall.
In Lavner’s words, “For the fourth consecutive day, Collin Morikawa hit his tee shot in the right fairway bunker. And even from 185 yards, it looked like the ball was sitting down just a little bit, was unable to go for the green in two, hit a pedestrian wedge shot to about 20, 25 feet, was unable to make birdie on what was the easiest hole on the golf course.” This, he suggested, was the defining moment of the tournament.
Despite this setback, Morikawa has shown remarkable resilience, carrying his excellent form from 2024 into this year. He finished second to Hideki Matsuyama at The Sentry in January and placed within the top 20 in his two previous starts before Bay Hill. He currently ranks second on the PGA Tour for total strokes gained and strokes gained to tee to green.
Given his track record and current form, it’s hard not to believe that Morikawa’s wait for victory will end soon. Nonetheless, the psychological impact of coming so close yet falling short cannot be underestimated. His performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational serves as a stark reminder of the thin line between victory and defeat in the world of professional golf.
