Collin Morikawa fires golf coach after 18 years: "It wasn't easy at all"
PGA Tour star Collin Morikawa has explained why he has decided to change his coach after nearly two decades with instructor Rick Sessinghaus.
There are plenty more fascinating storylines other than Tiger Woods' PGA Tour return at the Hero World Challenge.
Our Johnny Percival has noticed a number of intriguing equipment developments, which you can read about here.
There is also a huge change for one player in the invite-only, 20-man field in Albany.
We are talking about Collin Morikawa. The two-times major champion has hired Max Homa's coach Mark Blackburn.
He was working with Rick Sessinghaus but has now split with the golf instructor after nearly two decades together.
Morikawa told reporters in Albany the decision was difficult, but ultimately one he 'had to do' after 18 years with Sessinghaus.
Since clipping two majors in quick succession, it's been an up-and-down 18 months for the U.S. golfer.
He's getting back somewhere where he needs to be or perhaps you expect him to be given his obvious talent.
That was illustrated by a commanding victory at the ZOZO Championship in late October which has boosted him to No. 14 in the rankings.
Describing the change, Morikawa said: "I had to do it, I just felt like it was time to make a change at some point.
"What I saw kind of over the past two years wasn't to my expectations and standards and goals what I wanted, so I brought on Mark Blackburn.
"Obviously there's no better way to start, but this is just the tip of the iceberg for us to kind of dig in and really know what we're going to do."
He added of Sessinghaus: "He's more than just a coach, he's one of my really good friends.
"He's someone I've always looked up to, someone that's been there for every step of my life essentially, not just in golf but just kind of living life, right?
"Someone that's growing up as a kid. It wasn't easy, and sometimes things happen like that. But 18 years is a long time.
"Not many relationships that I can say with a lot of people that I've had relationships for 18 years, and real relationships where I'm talking to them every week, right?
"So that wasn't easy at all."
Morikawa is scheduled to play the opening round of the Hero World Challenge alongside Jason Day.
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