Collin Morikawa on devastating collapse at Tournament of Champions: "It sucks"
Collin Morikawa was eight shots ahead of Jon Rahm after the Spaniard bogeyed his first hole in the final round at Kapalua, but what ensued on the back nine was incredible...
Collin Morikawa admitted "it sucks" not to be holding the winner's trophy at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the memory of squandering a six-shot lead "is going to hurt."
Morikawa faced the media in a frank and honest fashion after losing to Jon Rahm by two shots at the Plantation Course in Maui, having led by seven shots at one stage.
But the timing was key. The 2021 Open champion made his first bogey at the venue in 86 holes on 14, around the same time Rahm holed his eagle putt on 15 to tie up the scores on 26-under.
Morikawa made three consecutive bogeys, which no player had done all week in Kapalua, to fall two shots behind. Rahm sealed the deal with a birdie on the 18th hole to reach 27-under and open a three-shot lead.
The American was an albatross away from a playoff, but this wasn't to be. This is only the eighth instance on the PGA Tour where a player has held a six-shot lead after 54 holes and hasn't completed the victory.
Winning is hard.
Once leading by 7, Collin Morikawa is now tied for the lead.
His first bogey of the week results in a co-lead with Jon Rahm. pic.twitter.com/PRiFBqvfGr— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2023
The 25-year-old admitted this was probably the biggest disappointment of his professional career so far. Once Rahm rolled in his crucial eagle putt on the par-5 15th hole, Morikawa saw the leaderboard and knew he had an animal breathing down his neck.
Jon Rahm is CLUTCH
An emotional finish for @JonRahmPGA on 18 @Sentry_TOC. pic.twitter.com/BD5pb5EnwF— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 9, 2023
The writing was on the wall on this hole when Morikawa chunked a pitch to the green which effectively returned to his feet. His approach to the 16th hole was also short which led to another bogey.
It must be said that Rahm feels at home at Kapalua. He came second behind Cameron Smith in 2022 and he is 60-under through his last two appearances at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
It was his third win in his last six starts and a victory at the first Elevated Event of 2023. The 28-year-old even lost belief after making a bogey on his very first hole on Sunday. He went on to make nine birdies to card a 10-under 63.
