Congratulations to the sensational Collin Morikawa, the 2020 PGA Champion. A most deserved victor after a final-day 64! That drive on 16 to set up eagle will be replayed for years to come. As may the trophy lift, but everyone loves a blooper, and Morikawa enjoyed it himself. He’s a special talent. Commiserations meanwhile to the 54-hole leader Dustin Johnson, who still somehow has only one major to his name, and Paul Casey, who must wonder if it’s simply never meant to be, as England’s 101-year wait for a second PGA champion goes on. Thanks for reading this blog over the last four days. You’ll come back for Winged Foot next month, yes?
-13: Morikawa
-11: Casey, D Johnson
-10: Wolff, Day, DeChambeau, Finau, Scheffler
-9: Rose
-8: Schauffele, Dahmen, Champ
-7: Reed, Rahm, Kim, Berger
-6: Todd, Li
-5: English, Kisner, Griffin
-4: An, Steele, Noren, Scott, Perez, Poulter, Matsuyama
-3: Redman, Varner III, Fleetwood, Koepka
-2: Hovland, Oosthuizen, McIlroy, Frittelli
-1: Woods, Henley, Cauley, Lashley, Thomas, Simpson
Morikawa speaks! “It’s amazing … it’s been a life goal as a little kid … this is what I’ve always wanted to do … to finally close it off here in San Francisco, pretty much my second home, is pretty special … [his drive at 16] just fit my eye, and now we’re here!” He has another go of lifting the trophy, making a success of it this time. Dropping the lid earlier was the only thing he did wrong all day.
The trophy hi-jinx from another angle. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP
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The Wanamaker Trophy is handed over to the extraordinary Collin Morikawa! “Ooh wow! That’s big!” He lifts it above his head … and the lid comes crashing off. Smiles all round. Arsenal’s FA Cup winning captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang really has started something here. The lid’s popped back on and he has a more successful go. To be fair, it is an unnecessarily large pot.
Slapstick presentation shenanigans. Photograph: Jeff Chiu/AP
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Morikawa becomes the first player to win the PGA on debut since Keegan Bradley pipped Jason Dufner in 2011. It’s his first major victory in only his second appearance, and his third win on Tour already, not half bad when you consider he’s only made 28 starts as a pro. The last three players to win the PGA aged 23? Rory McIlroy (2012), Tiger Woods (1999) and Jack Nicklaus (1963). Not bad company to be keeping, huh?
The hug Morikawa received was from his girlfriend Katherine Zhu, a professional golfer herself. The pair have a chat with some loved ones through the old phone, but only after Casey comes over and, with a warm smile, offers his congratulations.
Morikawa checks his card while watching the final pairing come up 18 on a big screen. Then he makes his way greenside to witness the action in the flesh. Scheffler nearly drains a long putt for birdie, but it shaves the hole. A 68 and he finishes in a tie for fourth at -10. That’s because DJ makes his 20-foot birdie putt to grab a share of second with Casey. A 68 and he’s -11. Still just one major for the big man.
-13: Morikawa
-11: Casey, D Johnson
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The deal’s sealed because Dustin Johnson could only par 17. Back on the tee, he lashes his drive down the track, having been unable yet again to convert a 54-hole lead at a major. Meanwhile Morikawa goes to shake a few hands and hug a few friends, before remembering the social distancing codes and backing off! He gets a hug anyway. What a performance by this amazing young Californian! The small crowd that’s gathered do their best to make as much noise as possible. It’s more than enough. It’s a unique celebration; it’s a strange celebration; it’s still a great celebration. The party is on!
COLLIN MORIKAWA IS THE 2020 PGA CHAMPION! There’s to be no final-round 63 for Morikawa, like he’ll care. His birdie putt shaves the left lip, and he taps in for par. A huge smile breaks across his young features. He’s going to lift the Wanamaker Trophy! He’s the 2020 PGA Champion!
The moment of victory. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images
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There’s an impromptu welcoming committee gathered by the 18th to applaud Morikawa up the fairway. He deserves this so much. Before he can take his turn, Champ pars to sign for a 70. He’s -8. Funny, he looked as cool as Morikawa, if not even cooler, on the front nine, before that horror double at the 9th.
Paul Casey speaks. “I played wonderful golf, simple as that … Collin thoroughly deserves this, what a shot he hit on 16, just awesome golf! … so I’m very happy, it’s been a great week … a joy to play with Koepka who is a gentleman … there’s nothing you can do except tip your cap to [Morikawa’s shot on 16] … kudos to whoever set up this course for creating those kind of holes, risk and reward are what this game hinges on … Collin took that challenge on, pulled it off, and that’s what great champions do.” What a gracious interview. His heart must be bleeding right now. What magnificent golf he played this week. Winged Foot maybe.
Morikawa finishes with a flourish, sending his iron from 160 yards over the flag at 18 and spinning it back to eight feet or so. With a penalty area to the left of the green, he was probably trying to be a little bit more conservative than that, but when it’s your day, the little misses turn into sensational approaches. He’s really stepped on the gas coming home. And if he makes this putt, he’ll have shot 63 in the final round of a major. Not half bad, huh?
Morikawa splits the 18th fairway. This is such a textbook example of seizing the day. Back on 16, meanwhile, DJ sends his drive into a penalty area … then after dropping, chips in from 50 yards for birdie. He’s back to -10, and this story, while almost told, isn’t quite finished yet.
The defending champion Brooks Koepka bogeys the last, a fitting end to a miserable day. His 74 means he ends the week on -3. All the real damage was done on the front nine, as he went out in 39. So Peter Thomson remains the last men’s player to win the same major three times in a row (the Open, 1954 to 1956). It was still a hell of a defence, though. What a player; it just wasn’t his day.
Morikawa’s 30-foot birdie effort across 17 stops one dimple short. That would have sealed it for sure. Par. So close now. Up on the 18th green, meanwhile, Casey misses his downhill right-to-left curler on what the pros call the amateur side; always breaking off to the left, never with a chance of dropping. Just a par, and he signs for a superb 66. He’s the new clubhouse leader, and his only hope is that Morikawa has a hitherto undiscovered and undisturbed Inner Van de Velde.
-13: Morikawa (17)
-11: Casey (F)
Casey’s second into 18 sticks stubbornly on the edge of the ridge running through the green. He’ll have an extremely delicate and bendy putt for a birdie that would put a little pressure on the leader. You’d think he has to make it if he’s to have any chance.
Morikawa finds the 17th green, the first job done. Up on 18, two putts for Finau, who signs for a 66 and joins the clubhouse leaders at -10. Two putts for DeChambeau as well, who has lived up to the hype this week. It’s a 66 for him too, and a -10 finish. It’s his best showing in a major so far.
DeChambeau and Finau are both on 18 in regulation, but miles from the hole. Back on the tee, Casey lashes down the middle of the fairway. All these chaps can do is roll the dice, and hope Morikawa is overwhelmed by the enormity of what he’s about to do.
Morikawa makes no mistake with the eagle putt. Calm as you like. Especially when you consider how, at the Charles Schwab Challenge just after the restart, he missed a putt from six feet at the 72nd hole then a three footer in the playoff to gift the title to Daniel Berger. No mental scar tissue there! The eagle gives him a two-shot cushion, and suddenly the Wanamaker Trophy is within this brilliant 23-year-old Californian’s grasp!
-13: Morikawa (16)
-11: Casey (17)
-10: Wolff (F), Day (F), Finau (17), DeChambeau (17)
Casey, standing on the 17th tee, looked around to see that stunner. “Was that Morikawa?” he asked his caddy, in the manner of someone who knew the answer exactly, before breaking into a wry smile. A bitter moment for a player who might never get close than this again. But he’s not giving up. He whips his tee shot at 17 to ten feet … but can’t knock the birdie putt in. That’s a match-play style sickener for Casey, and he’s not smiling any more.
Collin Morikawa has surely just hit the winning shot of the 2020 PGA. He sends a huge gentle fade around the corner of the short par-four 16th, bouncing his ball onto the front of the green and sending it serenely gliding towards the hole. It stops seven feet short, from where he’ll putt for eagle! Should he make it, he’ll be so close to a maiden major. What a stunning tee shot!
Paul Casey takes a share of the lead! From the Jason Day Bunker on 16, he splashes out to five feet, and knocks in the birdie putt. Nerveless! He moves alongside Morikawa at the top. Meanwhile Finau tidies up for his par on 17.
-11: Casey (16), Morikawa (15)
-10: Wolff (F), Day (F), Finau (17), DeChambeau (17)
DJ can’t rake in his long par saver on 14, and he’s back to -9 with work to do now. Morikawa makes a two-putt par on 15. DeChambeau’s birdie putt stays high on the left: “It didn’t break a bit,” is his stunned reaction. And up on 18, Day makes his par putt and signs for a blemish-free 66. Will it be enough? He’ll be keeping his fingers crossed for a play-off. He ties the clubhouse lead at -10 with Wolff.
What Finau would give for a chip-in on 17! He nearly gets one, too, but his lob clanks the flagstick and stays out. He’ll have a three-footer for par. Up on 18, Day finds a fairway bunker from the tee, then a greenside one with his second. He flops out to six feet, and must make that par putt to tie the clubhouse lead with Wolff.
Morikawa is on the 15th in regulation. Casey in the bunker on 16 that Day found himself in earlier. DeChambeau is on the 17th, 15 feet away having caressed his tee shot over the flag. His partner Finau misses the par-three to the left. And on 14, DJ is in a spot of trouble, having sent his second into the bunker on the left, and thinned his escape 30 feet past the hole.
-11: Morikawa (14)
-10: Wolff (F), Day (17), Finau (16), DeChambeau (16), Casey (15), D Johnson (13)
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DeChambeau opts to putt rather than chip from the taller grass by the side of 16. His effort breaks right, and it’s just a birdie. He’s -10. He was so unlucky with his tee shot, which would have surely set up a big eagle chance had it not kicked right. Compare and contrast to Morikawa’s bounce left on 14 that eventually led to his chip-in birdie. The slim margins of golf.
Day’s tee shot at 17 is pin high, 15 feet from the flag. He looks to have made the birdie putt, but it kinks out on the left. A huge groan. He remains at -10. Scheffler slips back to -9, though, punishment for a three-putt on 13.
Could this be the moment that wins the 2020 PGA?! Collin Morikawa misclubbed coming into the 14th, and he’s down in a swale to the front-right of the green. No matter! He flops a chip up onto the green, the ball checking and then rolling out, straight into the cup! That is quite exquisite, and he takes sole leadership of this tournament! Turns out he took advantage of that lucky bounce off the tee after all! Can anybody respond?
-11: Morikawa (14)
-10: Wolff (F), Day (16). Finau (15), Casey (15), Scheffler (12)
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DeChambeau’s tee shot at the par-four 16th is dead on line. But it takes a little bounce to the right, and stops in the second cut between green and bunker. So unlucky, because that could have gone very close. He’ll still have a dinky little chip for eagle. Meanwhile up on the 15th green, Casey leaves a half-decent 20-foot downhill curler high on the right. Just a par.
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“Aw man, you love this tee shot, don’t you?! Jesus Christ!” Collin Morikawa there, as his tee shot at 14 sails off towards the rough on the right. But his ball takes a huge 90-degree kick left out of the fringe, and he’s on the fairway. A friendly bounce. Can he take advantage? Nope. He underclubs and comes up short. So careless. Meanwhile there’s more patter on 15, as Paul Casey and Brooks Koepka enjoy an uproarious back-and-forth as they walk up the fairway, humour breaking the tension. Koepka, his race long run, might be doing his partner a favour there.
Day leaves his putt high on the right, and it’s just a par. He remains at -10, and he walks off with the slightly dejected air of a man who thinks he might have made a fatal error.
Day pulls his tee shot at 16 into a bunker well short of the green. He’ll have some work now to make birdie on a hole that tantalisingly dangles an eagle opportunity in front of everyone’s nose. He’s really not happy with his second, taking too much sand and leaving his long bunker shot 15 feet short. It’s not a must-make birdie putt … but you feel it’s a must-make birdie putt. Yes, it’s exactly like that.
Casey screeches his second at 14 from 157 yards to three feet! One of the shots of the day, and he deservedly grabs a shot of the lead at -10 by tapping the birdie putt home. This has been non-stop since the get-go. It’s been a hell of a ride already. What next?!
Finau walks in a putt from the fringe at the front of 14! He joins the group at -10! Birdie for his partner DeChambeau, too, and he punches the air as he finally makes it back to -9. Day meanwhile pars 15. This is joyously absurd. You know what, this could be decided by whoever eagles 16. At least one of them is going to eagle 16, right?
-10: Wolff (F), Day (15), Finau (14), Morikawa (12), Scheffler (11), D Johnson (11)
-9: DeChambeau (14), Casey (13)
Xander Schauffele looks disappointed with his final-day 67. A fair chance, though, that at -8 he’ll register yet another top-ten finish at a major. If he does, it’ll be six out of 12. His time will come.
Matthew Wolff, playing in his very first major, is the new clubhouse leader. He screeches his approach at 18 to five feet, and knocks in the birdie putt. It’s a strong finish … a 65 … and it gives him co-ownership of the tournament lead as well. That’s a gauntlet thrown down, though you suspect he might be a shot or two shy. Still, you never know. If he does make it, he’ll join Willie Park Sr., Francis Ouimet, Ben Curtis and Keegan Bradley in winning a major at his very first attempt!
-10: Wolff (F), Day (14), Morikawa (12), Scheffler (11), D Johnson (11)
-9: Finau (13), Casey (13)
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A loose tee shot at 12 costs Champ a shot. He slips back to -8 again. Grim-faced, he’s the bizarro Day right now. Meanwhile bogey for Casey at 13, the result of underclubbing his approach then compounding the error with a heavy-handed chip. Casey, chasing his first major at 43, looks more pensive than annoyed. He slips to -9.
Day’s putter is warming up nicely. A 15-foot birdie effort across 14 threatens to lip out, but eventually drops after performing the wall of death. He joins the ever-expanding leading group, and celebrates accordingly. Of all the players out there, he’s the one enjoying himself the most obviously right now.
-10: Day (14), Casey (12), Morikawa (12), D Johnson (11), Scheffler (11)
Finau couldn’t make his two-putt par at 12, incidentally. It led to his first bogey of the day. But he bounces back brilliantly, curling in a right-to-left 30-footer on 13 to return to -9 immediately! Another vital one, right there, as time, holes and space for error start running out. The tension is palpable, events coming to the boil. Imagine the temperature if Harding Park was packed with punters!
Casey’s second into 12 flies into the rough at the back. He chips back a little clumsily, six feet past. A tricky one coming back. But he nails it. That was so vital. He stays in a tie for the lead at -10.
A slip-up by DJ on 10, as he sends his second into the bunker on the left. He’s shortsided, and can’t get close with his third. A huge birdie chance slips by, and that’s effectively a shot handed over to the field. His partner Scheffler makes no such mistake, and his birdie brings him into a four-way tie for the lead. Meanwhile a nice up-and-down from sand at 13 for Day. He remains at -9, where he’s joined by Wolff, who leaves his eagle effort short on 16 but makes no mistake with the resulting four-footer.
-10: Casey (11), Morikawa (11), D Johnson (10), Scheffler (10)
-9: Wolff (16), Day (13), Champ (11)
Kim Si-woo, the youngest-ever winner of the unofficial fifth major, the Players Championship, is coming up quietly on the rail. Birdies at 2, 7, 10 and now 15, and he’s -8. A strong finish – like Ryan Palmer’s earlier eagle, birdie, birdie, for example – and he could post something to give the rest of the field pause. See also Matthew Wolff, who has just battered his tee shot at the short par-four 16th to the fringe. Outside chance of eagle.
Jason Day did extremely well to save his par at 12, getting up and down from a greenside bunker. Tony Finau, coming behind, looks a good bet to save himself too, having driven into the trees but manufacturing a low fizzer and finding the dancefloor. Two long putts, but that’s a quite exceptional outcome from where he was. Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa joins the leaders with one of those must-make-really birdies at 10. His partner Cameron Champ regroups after that double with a bounceback birdie. He’s back to -9.
-10: Casey (11), Morikawa (10), D Johnson (9)
-9: Day (12), Finau (11), Champ (10), Scheffler (9)
Paul Casey grabs himself a share of the lead! He birdies the 10th after a crisp approach to ten feet, and his first major championship in his 64th attempt is a very real possibility now. He looks steady and calm, something he’s not always been at the business end of the majors. God speed. Are we about to see the first English winner of the PGA since Jim Barnes in 1919?! Meanwhile pars for Scheffler and Dustin at 9, and the final group hits the turn, ringing the bell for the start of the 2020 PGA Championship: it’s the last nine holes on major Sunday!
-10: Casey (10), D Johnson (9)
-9: Day (12), Finau (11), Morikawa (9), Scheffler (9)
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Champ’s chip is tame and he leaves himself ten feet short. He can’t save himself with the flat stick this time, the ball shoved right, and it’s a painful double. He’s back where he started: -8.
-10: D Johnson (8)
-9: Day (11), Finau (10), Casey (9), Morikawa (9), Scheffler (8)
-8: Li (15), Wolff (14), Rose (11), DeChambeau (10), Champ (9)
Finau doesn’t make the mistake of his partner DeChambeau, and makes a lovely boring birdie at 10. No fuss, no sweat, he’s going along very nicely at -9. Meanwhile on 14, Wolff, having missed two hige birdie chances on 12 and 13, overhits a short birdie putt. It horseshoes out, and he slips back to -8. What a sickening sequence for the young man.
Back-to-back birdies for Jason Day, as he suddenly emerges into the light! He drains a long putt across 11, and suddenly he’s only a shot off at -9! Meanwhile more careless work around the green by DeChambeau, and it’s only a par on the par-five 10th.
Champ is snookered behind a tree and is forced to chip out sideways. That’s terrible luck, though it was a godawful drive too. A bogey most likely now. Can he get up and down from 175? He shakes his head as he pushes his approach right, the ball taking a big kick further offline and into thick stuff. Meanwhile back on 8, a great up and down from sand for Scheffler, who is mooching along quietly after his opening birdie. He stays at -9. And his partner DJ gets up and down from thick grass at the front, and he stays at -10. Unless Champ chips in, he’ll be the sole leader soon.
So having said that, Champ sends a big slice towards the trees down the right of the extremely difficult 9th. God speed. Birdies for Jason Day on 10, and Li Haotong at 14; they’re both -8 and this is an excellent performance from Li in particular, after all he’s been through this week.
Champ trundles in his par saver! What nerves of steel! That was heading into the centre of the cup from the very second it left the face of his flat stick. He remains at -10 and right now has the determined look of the man to beat. The 25-year-old Californian already has two wins to his name in his short PGA Tour career … and he’s been the longest hitter this week. A telling stat, because the longest hitter has won seven of the last 30 PGA Championships. What a story this would be.
Champ takes an eyeful of sand as he whacks out of the bunker at 8. It’s a decent long bunker shot, but not an exceptional one, and he’ll need to sink a 20-footer to save his par. Meanwhile up on 13, Wolff wastes another great birdie chance, knocking his approach to five feet but shoving it wide left with great uncertainty. He should be leading after back-to-back birdies; as it is, he’s still one behind Champ and Johnson at -9.
DeChambeau has left himself an 11 foot 3 inch putt from the fringe at 9. He hits it 11 feet and 2 inches. He taps in with a frown. All of a sudden, he’s taken a screeching u-turn and is heading backwards in the grand fashion. Like his partner Finau, he’s turning in 33 at -8, but you know full well who’s the happier bunny right now. DeChambeau trudges off with hands in pockets, a study in dejection.
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Tony Finau has been quiet since that birdie-birdie opening salvo. But he’ll be happy enough with the seven pars that follow. He hits the turn in 33, and at -8 is still right in the mix, without breaking too much sweat and using up all that precious emotional energy. He might need it later. What am I saying? Of course he’ll need it later. Business end of a major championship coming right up!
Champ slam-dunks his tee shot at 8 into the bunker guarding the front right of the green. One club short. That’ll be a long, long sand shot. Also in trouble, DeChambeau up on 9, who fires a long birdie putt past the hole and onto the fringe behind. He has the good grace to look embarrassed at putting off the green.
Some news of Tommy Fleetwood, and it isn’t good. His weekend struggles continue, after yesterday’s ground-out 70. Birdies at 5 and 7, but a double at 6, the result of a woefully wayward drive, and another bogey at 9 means he’s turning in 36. At -5, he’s too far back with too many players up ahead. That 64 on Friday looking like an outlier now. But here’s some better news for English fans, as Paul Casey keeps on keeping on. Par at 8 and he stays at -9.
This post originally appeared on and written by:
Scott Murray
The Guardian 2020-08-10 01:31:00
