Collin Morikawa just unleashed the round of his life, and it’s a performance that might just redefine what’s possible on the golf course! In an era where the focus is often on the journey, not the destination, Morikawa is a reminder that sometimes, the spectacular results are what truly fuel belief. He’s a player who thrives on seeing the fruits of his labor, and after a challenging start to the year, he finally got the breakthrough he’d been craving.
But here's where it gets truly remarkable: Morikawa achieved this incredible feat at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a stunning 10-under-par 62. What makes this even more extraordinary is that he hit every single green on the course. Yes, you read that right – 18 greens in regulation! This wasn't just a good round; it was statistically the best ball-striking performance of his entire career. He gained an astounding 6.46 shots on the field with his approach play alone, a margin that left the next best competitor in the dust by nearly three strokes. Imagine that level of precision!
Morikawa himself described the feeling, saying, "Ball was going where I wanted, putts were dropping when I needed them. (I) just never got ahead of myself. This game is stressful enough and I think I make it even more stressful for whatever reason.” It’s a sentiment many golfers can relate to, even those at the highest level.
This performance served as a powerful affirmation of Morikawa’s immense talent, a talent that has never truly wavered, even when he’s faced the pressure of lofty expectations. While his ball-striking has seen its ups and downs since his last win in 2023, he’s built a career on being the best ball-striker in the world, a state that allows him to dominate, even if other facets of his game aren't perfectly aligned. The challenge, however, has been stringing these stellar performances together over four rounds. It's been a frustrating period for the former world No. 1, who was once a consistent winner. The narrative had shifted, with Morikawa becoming known for his struggles to close out tournaments, despite starting the final round in a strong position multiple times this year (0-for-6 in converting those leads into victories since the start of 2024).
And this is the part most people miss: While Saturday’s round didn't erase that narrative entirely, it certainly gave him a fighting chance to rewrite it on Sunday. Playing in the calmer morning conditions, Morikawa was on fire from the start. He birdied the par-5 second, then followed up with a precise wedge shot to within 4 feet for another birdie on the third. He continued his charge with four consecutive birdies to finish his front nine, including a crucial 6-foot putt on the ninth. A brief hiccup with a bogey on the 10th was quickly overcome when he sank a 14-foot birdie on the 13th, igniting a spectacular finish. He played the final six holes in 5-under par, with three of those birdies coming from inside 2 feet. It was a masterclass in controlling the golf ball, a feeling he described as being "like my old self."
This was a truly exceptional display of iron play, a rarity even among the game’s elite like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. The fact that Morikawa shot 62 while actually losing strokes on the putting green (missing a 7-footer on the first, three-putting from 26 feet on the 10th, and missing an 8-footer on the 12th) highlights the sheer brilliance of his ball-striking. It was a round where he genuinely left shots out on the course, which is almost unheard of for such a low score.
Now, for the million-dollar question: Can he do it again on Sunday? The forecast predicts significantly tougher conditions, with 35 mph wind gusts expected. It's highly unlikely we'll see another 62. These are the kinds of conditions where the process truly matters more than the immediate result. However, this is a Signature Event on a Sunday, and the result will undoubtedly matter a great deal.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe Morikawa can maintain this level of play under pressure, or will the challenging conditions prove too much? Share your predictions in the comments below!
