Morikawa's Triumphant Return
After a two-year hiatus from the winner's circle, Collin Morikawa has made a triumphant return by clinching the 2023 ZOZO Championship. The victory marks his first PGA Tour win since his major triumph at the 2021 Open Championship. The young golfer's performance was nothing short of dominant, as he finished the event with a stellar 14-under par.
The ZOZO Championship, known for its lucrative purse, did not disappoint this year with an $8.5 million prize fund. Morikawa claimed a handsome winner's share of $1,530,000, a testament to his exceptional play over the course of the tournament which ran from October 19 to October 22.
Field of Notables
The championship featured a strong field, with notable players such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler vying for the title. However, it was Morikawa who emerged from the pack, showcasing the poise and precision that have become hallmarks of his game. His six-shot lead over the closest competitors underscored a performance that was both commanding and composed.
Eric Cole and Beau Hossler were the runners-up, finishing tied for second place with impressive scores of 8-under each. Their efforts were rewarded with equal payouts of $748,000. Close behind them were Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton, who shared fourth place at 7-under par, earning $374,000 apiece.
Top Ten Finishers
The leaderboard was tightly packed beyond the top spots. Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun all delivered commendable performances to tie for sixth place at 6-under, each taking home $275,187.50. Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh weren't far behind; their tie for tenth at 5-under par secured them $221,000 each.
Further down the list, Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira ended the tournament in a three-way tie for twelfth place at 4-under, with individual earnings of $178,500. Matt NeSmith rounded out the top fifteen, finishing at 3-under par and earning $151,640.
Midfield Earners
The competition remained fierce throughout the field. Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery tied for sixteenth place at 2-under, pocketing $133,960 each. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala were one stroke behind, tying for nineteenth place at 1-under and earning $112,710 apiece.
Those who tied for twenty-first place finished at even-par and received $73,610 each. Players who found themselves tied for thirty-first and thirty-eighth places, scored 1-over and 2-over par respectively, with respective earnings around $46,167 and $36,210. A tie for forty-first place at 3-over saw players taking home $27,710 each.
Consolation Prizes
The payout structure also acknowledged those who struggled on the course. Golfers tied for forty-eighth at 4-over earned $20,230 each, while a score of 5-over led to a fifty-first place tie, with each player receiving $17,743.75. Those who finished in the fifty-ninth spot at 6-over par took home $16,490 each.
A group tied for sixty-fourth at 7-over par earned $15,725 each, and players at 8-over tied for sixty-eighth, securing $15,045 each. Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. The seventy-third place tie at 10-over par resulted in earnings of $14,280 per player, while Tyson Alexander placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, earning $13,940. Ben Taylor, despite finishing seventy-seventh at 20-over par, still secured $13,770.
Reflective of golf's spirit of inclusivity and competitiveness, the payout structure ensured that all participants were compensated for their efforts. This approach underlines the sport's commitment to rewarding professional golfers for their dedication and participation in high-level tournaments.
A Resounding Comeback
Morikawa's victory is not just a personal milestone but a signal to the golfing world that he remains a formidable force on the tour. His performance at the ZOZO Championship is a clear indication of his ability to compete and succeed at the highest levels