PGA Tour: Collin Morikawa matches profession greatest at Tour Champiopnship

ATLANTA — The one factor hotter than the 95-degree warmth that scorched East Lake on Thursday was Collin Morikawa on the again 9.

He made six straight birdies, pouring in par-breakers on holes 10 by way of 15, hovering up the leaderboard and into rivalry. In doing so, Morikawa matched his personal private PGA Tour file. He final made six consecutive birdies throughout the first spherical of The Sentry, which, humorous sufficient, additionally got here on holes 10 by way of 15 at Kapalua. However he sadly blew an enormous 54-hole lead that week, shedding to Jon Rahm by a pair.

Nonetheless, Morikawa started the Tour Championship at 4-under par by way of the beginning strokes format and now sits at 9-under after day one. He shot a 5-under 66 and is now tied for second with Xander Schauffele.

“After [the front] 9, I advised myself to begin solely fascinated about my shot and never worrying about if the ball goes to be excellent or not,” Morikawa mentioned.

“We executed some pictures and made some putts. Look, the sport is nice sufficient to come back out right here and win. I’ve simply acquired to get out of my very own head.”

Morikawa went on to elucidate how he has needed to combat his personal private battles and attempt {for golfing} perfection greater than anybody else.

“I wish to see the right shot. I wish to see this excessive, peely minimize that I’ve all the time hit. You’re employed so exhausting on the vary and the weeks earlier than to hit that shot, and generally it doesn’t produce that,” Morikawa defined.

Photograph by Mike Mulholland/Getty Photos

“Nevertheless it doesn’t imply that it’s a must to play golf like that. On the finish of the day, it’s like I’m attempting to hit it 150 yards. I simply need it to land 150 yards and determine it out from there. It’s realizing what to just accept and what to not settle for on the market.”

With that mentioned, Morikawa had loads of good pictures to just accept, particularly on the again 9. However he did get off to a lackluster begin, opening with a 1-over 37 on East Lake’s entrance aspect.

“I want [my run] would have began on gap 1, however it’s going to be a great reminder going into the subsequent three days that I’ve simply acquired to see my shot and execute,” Morikawa mentioned.

“Not that I’m attempting to do an excessive amount of, however there’s this good circulate and rhythm in your routine generally while you’re enjoying properly, and the way do you discover that. Typically it’s simply barely off, however it causes some unhealthy pictures.”

Morikawa didn’t hit many unhealthy pictures on Thursday, at the least not on the back-nine. He did miss a great search for birdie on the par-5 18th, however apart from that, he performed flawless golf down the stretch.

However now he faces a seven-shot deficit to World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who fired a 6-under 65 on day one. And but, it’s solely the primary day loads of golf stays. Along with his improved mindset, wherein he focuses on the outcomes and never the method, something is feasible for Morikawa. He has confirmed that earlier than and most actually can achieve this once more this weekend.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.