LOS ANGELES – American Collin Morikawa took advantage of a shot in the third hole of the playoffs to beat Justin Thomas in a wild final on Sunday and capture the US PGA Tour Workday Charity Open.
Morikawa, who had been the breakthrough during the first two rounds, recovered from three knocks down with three holes remaining to force the playoff at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
He then remained alive by emptying a 24-foot flight shot on the first playoff hole immediately after the third-round leader Thomas made a mind-blowing 50-foot hole shot for the birdie.
“Incredible,” said 23-year-old Morikawa, who ended a final 66 round to end 19 under par 269 and won for the second time on the US PGA Tour.
Sunday’s win made up for a disappointing defeat in another dramatic playoff final at the Charles Schwab Challenge four weeks ago in the return of the PGA since the closing of the COVID-19 calendar.
World number five Thomas was looking to win for the 13th time in the Tour, but was canceled in the last hole of the playoff after his 10th par-four T-shot sailed right and landed behind a tree. .
Thomas finished with a 69 but that included two carts in his last three holes after starting his round with a two-stroke lead over Viktor Hovland, with Morikawa three drifting.
“I’m pretty pissed off, it’s the only way to explain it,” said Thomas. “I had a three-shot lead with three of a distance and I gave it completely.
“Collin played great. He had a very tough hole at 17.
“We both made two big birds in the first hole of the playoffs. I had two chances to win this thing in regulation and in the second hole of the playoffs and I didn’t.”
This week’s Workday Charity Open is the first of consecutive events at the Jack Nicklaus course designed in Dublin, Ohio. The Nicklaus-hosted memorial will follow next week.
After rain, wind and lightning led to two suspensions on Friday, the organizers decided to raise the tee times on Sunday to avoid further weather delays.
Morikawa started Sunday’s round three hits back after opening with a 65 and 66 to lead the first and second rounds.
He quickly fought to get back on top with two little birds and an eagle in his first five holes.
He made three more birds on the back nine including par four 17. Morikawa used an iron to turn his approach shot to a meter and eighty, then made the shot in the hole and celebrated with a fist pump.
His only imperfection came in the 13th par-four when he bogeyed as he finished with a 66 under 4.
The most dramatic moment of the round occurred in the first hole of the playoffs, while both players raised huge putty for the little birds.
– Back to back bombs –
Thomas went first, making a 50-foot downhill shot for what appeared to be victory. But Morikawa was not going anywhere. He remained alive by draining his shot in the hole, from just 25 feet, to send him back to the 18th tee for a second playoff hole.
Morikawa signed the victory on the 75th hole, two putting the green after Thomas lost the fairway off the tee and had to cut off a small tree with his second shot.
The victory was Morikawa’s second on his 24th professional debut.
“This is a huge type of springboard,” said Morikawa. “We eliminated number one (victory), we got number two – let the doors open and continue because obviously it was a tough loss to Colonial a month ago, but I learned a lot.
“That’s just more positives, more learning for me.”
© Agence France-Presse
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