Morikawa Triumphs at ZOZO Championship
Collin Morikawa has claimed victory at the 2023 ZOZO Championship, ending a two-year wait for a PGA Tour win since his last triumph at the 2021 Open Championship. The tournament, boasting an $8.5 million purse, concluded with Morikawa securing a significant six-shot lead to finish at 14-under par.
The event, which ran from October 19 to October 22, featured notable golfers such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. However, it was Morikawa who emerged victorious, earning a winner's share of $1,530,000. This win marks a significant milestone in Morikawa's career, signaling a return to the pinnacle of competitive golf.
Runner-Ups and Top Finishers
Eric Cole and Beau Hossler were the runners-up, tying for second place with scores of 8-under each. Their performance earned them a handsome payout of $748,000 apiece. Close behind, Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place at 7-under, each taking home $374,000 for their efforts.
A four-way tie for sixth place saw Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun all finishing at 6-under par. Each player received a prize of $275,187.50. Tenth place was a tie between Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who finished at 5-under and earned $221,000 each.
The twelfth-place tie included Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira, all of whom finished at 4-under par and were awarded $178,500 each. Matt NeSmith rounded out the top fifteen with a score of 3-under par, earning $151,640.
Mid-Field Finishes and Prize Distribution
The competition remained tight beyond the top spots. Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery tied for sixteenth place at 2-under, each pocketing $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala finished just behind at 1-under, tied for nineteenth place, and earned $112,710 each.
Those who tied for twenty-first place scored an even-par and received $73,610 each, while players tied for thirty-first place, finishing at 1-over par, had earnings around $46,167. A score of 2-over par led to a tie for thirty-eighth place, with each golfer earning $36,210.
Consistency in performance was rewarded even further down the leaderboard. Players in forty-first place took home $27,710 each for their 3-over par finish. A 4-over score resulted in a tie for forty-eighth place, with those golfers earning $20,230 each. Fifty-first place saw a tie at 5-over par, with earnings of $17,743.75 per player.
Earnings for Lower Placements
The payouts continued to reflect the inclusive nature of the tournament's structure. Golfers tied for fifty-ninth place scored 6-over par and earned $16,490 each, while those tied for sixty-fourth place, scoring 7-over par, took home $15,725 each. Players tied for sixty-eighth place, with scores of 8-over par, 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 saw each player involved earning $14,280. Tyson Alexander, placing seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured $13,940, and Ben Taylor, finishing seventy-seventh at 20-over par, received $13,770.
Conclusion
The ZOZO Championship's no-cut format ensured that all participants received prize money, a policy that supports competitiveness and inclusivity within the sport. As the dust settles on the green, Collin Morikawa's victory is not only a testament to his skill and determination but also a celebration of the spirit of golf, where every player is valued and every stroke counts.
Morikawa's impressive performance at the 2023 ZOZO Championship reaffirms his status among the elite in professional golf and serves as a reminder of his potential to dominate the leaderboards. With this win, Morikawa has indeed marked a resounding return to the top echelons of the golfing world.