Morikawa holds nerve in playoff to win second PGA title

Collin Morikawa has won his second PGA title after beating Justin Thomas in a playoff at the Workday Charity Open.

The 23-year-old Morikawa was tied with Thomas at the end of the final day. Thomas was three shots ahead of Morikawa with three holes to play but shot two bogeys on 16 and 18 while Morikawa birdied 17 to send it to the playoff.

The first playoff hole was full of excitement as Thomas drained an enormous 50-foot putt for birdie while Morikawa kept his cool to drain an impressive 23-foot putt for birdie to extend the playoffs. Both Thomas and Morikawa got par on the second playoff hole.

Thomas then hit an errant tee shot into the right rough on the final playoff hole which saw him try to lay up after being stuck behind a tree on par 4 and get to the green with three shots. Missing an 18-foot putt by 13 inches to get bogey on what was the final playoff hole to finish second overall.

Morikawa on the other hand hit the fairway with his drive and was on the green in two shots. He putted twice to win the playoff with a par. His second PGA win in his career, the first of which was at the Barracuda Championship in July last year.

This win comes off being cut from last week’s Travellers Championship which ended his 22 consecutive cuts made. This win will feel like redemption for Morikawa after losing the playoff against Daniel Berger in the Charles Schwab Challenge in June.

Justin Thomas will be ruing an incredible opportunity to win his 13th PGA title after shooting four bogeys among his five birdies and an eagle in his final round 69. His tee shots seemed to let him down as he missed fairways at crucial times which included the final playoff hole.

Viktor Hovland was a part of the final three that went out on Sunday with Morikawa and Thomas but found it tough going. After shooting three consecutive birdies from the third to the fifth hole, Hovland bogeyed the sixth after his ball found the water just in front of the green and struggled to get his round going after that. Shooting two more bogeys and a birdie in the following holes to end up third with 15 under.

Chase Seiffert came fourth with 14 under while Gary Woodland and Ian Poulter tied with 12 under to round out the top five.

The best finishing Aussie was Jason Day who finished T7 with 11 under for the tournament, a new highest finish for the Aussies since the PGA restarted.

The next event is the Memorial Tournament which takes place at Muirfield Village Golf Club starts this Thursday.