Collin Morikawa wins Zozo Championship in Japan for first PGA Tour title in more than two years
The Hindu
Collin Morikawa ended his 27-month winless streak with an incredible victory at the Zozo Championship in Inzai City, Japan. His wife, Katherine Zhu, was in the gallery to witness the special moment. Morikawa said he hadn't changed his game, but acknowledged the thoughts in his head piling up.
American Collin Morikawa called winning the Zozo Championship in Japan “incredible,” a special way to close the season for a player whose great-grandparents emigrated from the country.
But more important was a victory — anywhere, any victory — after a 27-month winless streak on the PGA Tour that started prompting questions about his game.
He broke through Sunday with a 7-under par 63 for a six-shot victory at the Narashino Country Club just outside Tokyo.
“It feels so good, I can't even explain it,” Morikawa said of his sixth PGA Tour win. “I knew I was going to get here at some point. It's like getting your first win, your first major.”
He said he realized that people were asking questions about why he had not won for so long. He said the victory was extra special since his wife Katherine Zhu was in the gallery and gave him a kiss when he came off No. 18.
“She hasn’t been to a win since — it’s been a long time since she’s actually been at the tournament since we won. So it’s nice to have her here," he said.
Morikawa added that he hadn't done much to change his game, but acknowledged “the thoughts in your head start piling up." He said part of the challenge was not to overreact to losing.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.