A Triumphant Return for Morikawa at the ZOZO Championship
After a two-year hiatus from the winner's circle, Collin Morikawa has once again tasted victory, securing the top spot at the 2023 ZOZO Championship. With a purse of $8.5 million on the line, Morikawa showcased his undeniable talent, finishing 14-under par and claiming a substantial winner's share of $1,530,000.
The event, which ran from October 19 through October 22, drew in a crowd of notable golfers including Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. Despite the strong field, Morikawa emerged as the clear leader, ending the tournament with a commanding six-shot lead over his closest competitors.
His last tour win, which came at the 2021 Open Championship, was still fresh in the minds of golf enthusiasts who have been eagerly anticipating his return to form. Morikawa's performance at the ZOZO Championship did not disappoint, signaling a resounding comeback to the upper echelons of professional golf.
Prize Money Breakdown
In an unusual twist for PGA Tour events, every participant at the ZOZO Championship received prize money, thanks to the absence of a cut. This inclusive payout structure supports competitiveness and ensures that all players are compensated for their participation, contributing to the overall inclusivity of the sport.
Tying for second place, Eric Cole and Beau Hossler both finished with impressive scores of 8-under par, each taking home $748,000 in prize money. Close behind them, Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place with 7-under each, earning $374,000 apiece.
A four-way tie for sixth saw Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun finish at 6-under par, with each golfer receiving $275,187.50. Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under par, were awarded $221,000 each.
The competition remained tight further down the leaderboard. Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira ended the tournament tied for twelfth place at 4-under, each pocketing $178,500. Matt NeSmith secured fifteenth place at 3-under par, earning himself $151,640.
Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery finished in a three-way tie for sixteenth place at 2-under, each taking home $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala, who tied for nineteenth place at 1-under, earned $112,710 each.
Golfers who finished the championship at even-par were grouped into a tie for twenty-first place, receiving $73,610 each. Those who tied for thirty-first place at 1-over par had earnings around $46,167, while a score of 2-over par led to a tie for thirty-eighth place, with each player in that group earning $36,210.
As the scores increased, so did the number of players sharing the same positions. The forty-first place tie at 3-over saw participants earn $27,710 each. A group tied for forty-eighth place scored 4-over par and received $20,230 each. Players tied for fifty-first place at 5-over par were awarded $17,743.75 each.
Those who found themselves tied for fifty-ninth place at 6-over par earned $16,490 each, and a score of 7-over par resulted in a tie for sixty-fourth place, with those golfers taking home $15,725 each. Players tied for sixty-eighth place at 8-over par earned $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley placed seventy-second at 9-over par and was awarded $14,620. Meanwhile, the seventy-third place tie at 10-over par meant each player involved earned $14,280. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured $13,940, and Ben Taylor, finishing seventy-seventh at 20-over par, took home $13,770.
Morikawa's Victory: A Sign of Things to Come?
Morikawa's triumph at the ZOZO Championship is more than just another win; it's a testament to his skill, resilience, and determination to remain at the peak of his game. His return to top-level golf not only excites fans but also sends a ripple through the golf community, indicating that Morikawa is a force to be reckoned