Just when Collin Morikawa was going to pick up his clubs the last week of December to start getting ready for 2022, he picked up something else.
COVID-19.
Still smarting a bit from squandering a five-shot, 54-hole lead with a final-round 76 and finishing in a tie for fifth in the Hero World Challenge earlier in December, the coronavirus threw the world No. 2 off-kilter and behind schedule.
It was a bitter end to a historic season. One in which he won his second major at the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s, became the first American to win the Race to Dubai by capturing the DP World Tour Championship, won his first WGC title at the Workday Championship at the Concession, and went 3-0-1 in his debut in the Ryder Cup, clinching the U.S. rout on Sunday.
But his health – and appetite – are robust heading into the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, some 35 miles from where he grew up. Especially when Riviera lights up his eyes and two of his favorite restaurants – Tsujita Annex (“Just get ready to take a nap,” he said) and Killer Noodle – are close by.
“It’s just very comfortable,” he said of the area where he’ll spend this week.
And he’s back to being comfortable on the course. After a surprising tie for fifth in the year-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions about 15 days after contracting COVID-19, Morikawa, 25, headed to the Middle East and tied for 62nd in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and 18th in the Dubai Desert Classic.
“I just didn’t have it. The game wasn’t feeling great, body wasn’t feeling great. Sometimes that happens and I needed a full reset,” Morikawa said Tuesday after a practice round. “Coach came out last week, figured some things out, and right now I’m feeling great. So the confidence is back, glad to be back in L.A. and I’m just excited to see everyone and ready to play some great golf.”
He has yet to do so at Riviera. Despite saying it’s one of his favorite courses in the world, Morikawa has finished in ties for 26th and 43rd in his two Genesis starts.
“I’ve just made a lot of mistakes,” he said. “For me it’s just at this point normally in the season I end up making too many mistakes. Normally I do that in the fall and then I slowly realize that and by the time I get to (The) Players (Championship in March), I’m like, OK, wake up. It’s just a learning experience and it’s just knowing what kind of golfer you are, and you have to be ready every week. You can’t be ready just in April, you can’t be ready just in June, you can’t be ready just in October, whatever. You’ve got to be ready every single time I tee it up.”
Despite coming off his best season on the PGA Tour, a lingering sour taste from 2021 remains. Although an official announcement has yet to be made, it has been reported that Morikawa finished 11th in the inaugural $40 million Player Impact Program for 2021 that pays out to only the top 10 players. The payout is $50 million for the top 10 players this year.
Morikawa joked he would change his lucky number from 5 to 11. He changed his social media bios to include “Co11in.” And he was visibly perturbed about the issue when asked in his press conference.
“How do I answer this? I’m trying to think, because like how many other leagues or sports pay out the top‑10 players for what they do for the game?” he said. “Now, it is a good thing, and it is a bad thing because I think, you know, do guys deserve more? Do guys that have really moved the needle, that have produced what we have done for the game, do they deserve more? Yes, right? They’ve changed our game and our game is constantly changing and evolving and opening it to more people, that’s the biggest thing.
“But, I mean, $50 million? That’s crazy to me; $50 million to the top‑10 players that can impact this game.”
He also lumped the new program that rewards any player $50,000 if he plays in 15 PGA Tour events this season. Morikawa reckoned that’s another $10 million.
“I don’t think that’s the best use of $60 million, but I don’t have an answer for that,” he said. “I probably should start thinking about this because I am in a position now to where I can help out and voice my opinion and hopefully be heard. I really don’t know, you know, other ways we can do it, but there’s got to be something. To pay out that amount is pretty crazy.”
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Speaking about crazy money, Morikawa was asked about the potential Super League backed by Saudi Arabia that is expected to pay out exorbitant guaranteed money to players and would be a direct rival to the PGA Tour. While Morikawa has said he’s been approached, he’s waiting on more details.
“I’m all for the PGA Tour,” he said. “Has it opened up things for us as professional golfers to open up things for the PGA Tour to look at what to do better? Absolutely. We’ve seen a lot of changes, some good, some bad, some that are still going to be amended I’m sure as time goes on.
“Right now you look at the best players that I see and they’re all sticking with the PGA Tour and that’s where I kind of stay and that’s where I belong.
“The only way I can start thinking about other tours, other leagues, whatever you call it, I need concrete evidence. I need to be able to see a sheet in front of me and know what’s out there, right? And as of now, for what I know, I don’t know what’s out there. All I’ve heard are rumors, all I’ve heard is talk and that’s hard to do, right? I’m still open to learning because I want to learn what’s out there.
“I want to know the details, too.”
Right now, his concentration is on Riviera and two of his favorite restaurants. And receiving the championship hardware from tournament host, Tiger Woods.