A Triumphant Return for Morikawa at the 2023 ZOZO Championship
After a two-year hiatus from the winner's circle, Collin Morikawa has clinched his first PGA Tour victory since the 2021 Open Championship. Morikawa emerged triumphant at the 2023 ZOZO Championship, a tournament boasting an $8.5 million purse, where he secured a substantial winner's share of $1,530,000.
The event, which spanned from October 19 to October 22, saw Morikawa finish at a commendable 14-under par. He established a formidable six-shot lead over the runners-up, demonstrating a return to the top-level golf that has defined his career.
Noteworthy Performances
The ZOZO Championship featured notable golfers such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, who were among the various talents vying for the title. However, it was Eric Cole and Beau Hossler who finished in a tie for second place, each carding an 8-under par to earn $748,000 apiece.
Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place with scores of 7-under, pocketing $374,000 each for their efforts. The competition remained tight as Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun tied for sixth place at 6-under, each taking home $275,187.50.
Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh ended the championship tied for tenth at 5-under, earning $221,000 each, while Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira, who tied for twelfth place at 4-under, each received $178,500.
Prize Money Distribution
Matt NeSmith rounded out the top fifteen with a 3-under par performance, earning him $151,640. Close behind, Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery tied for sixteenth place at 2-under, each securing $133,960.
Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala tied for nineteenth place with scores of 1-under, and both took home $112,710. Players who tied for twenty-first place scored even-par and received $73,610 each, maintaining the tournament's reputation for rewarding all participants.
Further down the leaderboard, those tied for thirty-first place finished at 1-over par, with earnings around $46,167, while players tied for thirty-eighth place at 2-over par earned $36,210 each. The forty-first place tie, at 3-over, saw players take home $27,710 each.
A score of 4-over led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with golfers earning $20,230 each. The fifty-first place tie at 5-over par resulted in a payout of $17,743.75 for each player involved. As the scores increased, the prize money decreased proportionately, with those tied for fifty-ninth place at 6-over par earning $16,490 each, and a group tied for sixty-fourth place at 7-over par taking home $15,725 each.
The players tied for sixty-eighth place scored 8-over par and earned $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 for each player, while Tyson Alexander placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, securing $13,940.
Ben Taylor, who finished seventy-seventh at 20-over par, managed to secure $13,770, underscoring the tournament's inclusive payout structure that ensures all players are compensated for their participation, regardless of their final standing.
Conclusion
The 2023 ZOZO Championship not only highlighted Morikawa's skillful play but also reinforced the spirit of competitiveness and inclusivity within the sport of golf. With every participant receiving prize money due to the absence of a cut in the tournament, the event exemplified a commitment to supporting professional golfers at various levels of the leaderboard.
Morikawa's victory is more than just a personal triumph; it marks a significant moment in his career, signaling a resurgence and reminding fans and fellow competitors of his prowess on the golf course. As the PGA Tour season continues, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Morikawa to see if he can maintain this high level of performance in future tournaments.