{"id":17039,"date":"2023-10-23T07:15:08","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T07:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/morikawa-recaptures-mojo-at-zozo-championship-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-23T07:15:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T07:15:08","slug":"morikawa-recaptures-mojo-at-zozo-championship-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/morikawa-recaptures-mojo-at-zozo-championship-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Morikawa recaptures mojo at Zozo Championship | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nINZAI:
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Collin Morikawa said he had refound “the golf I miss playing” after ending a two-year title drought with a resounding victory at the US PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship<\/a> in Japan on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The twice major champion finished six strokes clear at Narashino Country Club after rattling off seven birdies to card a bogey-free 63 and finish on 14-under overall.<\/p>\n

It gave the 26-year-old his sixth win on the US PGA Tour<\/a> and his first title since the 2021 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.<\/p>\n

Morikawa said it “meant the world” to lift the trophy.<\/p>\n

“Having this two-year drought, just struggling at times, not really contending, to do what I did through this entire week \u2013 that’s the golf I miss playing,” said Morikawa, whose last US PGA Tour win was at the 2021 British Open.<\/p>\n

“To see that again, it’s very exciting to close out this year and to head into next year.”<\/p>\n

Morikawa was playing his first tournament since being part of the American team that failed to retain the Ryder Cup in Rome.<\/p>\n

He led after the first round of the 78-man, no-cut event on the outskirts of Tokyo but faded before roaring back into contention in the third round with five birdies on the last six holes.<\/p>\n

He picked up where he left off on the final day, hitting four birdies on the front nine to surge into the lead.<\/p>\n

He closed out the win with one last birdie to set a new record for the tournament’s largest margin of victory.<\/p>\n

Morikawa said he had no doubts that his title drought would end and it was “more about when it was going to happen”.<\/p>\n

“The thoughts in your head start piling up like, what did I do differently, what do I need to change?” he said.<\/p>\n

“I just needed to take two steps back and really understand the foundation of what made me so solid of a player.”<\/p>\n

Eric Cole and Beau Hossler finished in a tie for second on 8-under.<\/p>\n

Justin Suh went into the final day with a one-stroke lead but faded badly, carding a final-round 74 to finish on 5-under.<\/p>\n

Morikawa, who has Japanese heritage, enjoyed the support of the home fans and said he was “able to connect with the people out here”.<\/p>\n

“When you’re able to touch on that aspect a little more, sometimes it pulls a little bit more out of you,” he said.<\/p>\n

“When you’re able to represent the United States at the Ryder Cup or the Olympics, it just drives you that much more.”<\/p>\n

Xander Schauffele, who was also playing his first competition since the Ryder Cup, finished on 2-over.<\/p>\n

The Tokyo Olympics champion was only three strokes off the lead after two rounds but plummeted down the leaderboard the following day and carded a final-round 71.<\/p>\n

Defending champion Keegan Bradley finished on 1-under, while 2021 winner Hideki Matsuyama was 5-over.<\/p>\n

The $8.5 million Zozo Championship was established in 2019 as the first US PGA Tour tournament in Japan.<\/p>\n

Thousands of Japanese fans turned up to watch Tiger Woods win the inaugural title for his 82nd US PGA Tour victory \u2013 equalling Sam Snead’s 54-year-old record.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n