Lessons from Augusta: Collin Morikawa’s Battle Against Greed at the Masters

In the final round of the 88th Masters, Collin Morikawa found himself in a promising position. Just one stroke behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler, Morikawa had shown glimpses of his former major-winning self with exceptional iron play, a steady short game, and calm pars throughout the tournament. However, in the battle against Augusta National on Masters Sunday, a certain five-letter word proved to be his downfall: greed.

Morikawa started the final round at six under par, matching Scheffler’s score. Both players were in the final pairing, creating an intense atmosphere on the course. Morikawa continued his steady performance from the third round, opening with seven consecutive pars, while Scheffler struggled with a one-over score during the same stretch. Morikawa’s momentum grew stronger at the par-5 8th hole, where he carded his first birdie of the day.

However, it was the 460-yard par-4 9th hole that would create a turning point in Morikawa’s round. After a wayward tee shot that landed in the pines, Morikawa faced a challenging recovery shot. He played a low runner that ended up in the front-left bunker. Unfortunately, his first attempt to escape the sand proved too crafty, resulting in the ball rebounding back to his feet. After a couple more shots and two putts, Morikawa walked off the hole with a frustrating double-bogey 6.

Morikawa managed to regain composure and carded a par at the 10th hole. However, the 11th hole, notorious for shattering dreams at Augusta, proved to be his undoing once again. Despite a well-executed tee shot, Morikawa found his ball in the water guarding the left side of the green. Frustrated by the difficult situation, he later admitted, “Just tried to hit too perfect of a shot.” A drop, a chip, and two more putts resulted in another double-bogey on his scorecard.

Three dropped shots in two holes were undoubtedly a blow to Morikawa’s chances of securing the coveted green jacket. He made a valiant effort to recover, with birdies on both back-nine par-5s, the 13th and 15th holes. However, a closing bogey on the 18th hole pushed him back to two over for the round and four under for the week, ultimately leaving him seven strokes behind Scheffler in a tie for third with Tommy Fleetwood and Max Homa. While this finish was respectable, it marked Morikawa’s highest major finish since his 2022 Open Championship victory.

Prior to this tournament, Morikawa’s performance in 2024 had been lackluster. Despite a strong showing at the season-opening Sentry, where he finished in fifth place, he experienced two missed cuts and only two additional top-20 finishes in six starts. Reflecting on his performance at the Masters, Morikawa acknowledged, “This has been a weird year, but I saw a lot of good this week.” He also recognized that his mental game faltered on this particular day, mentioning, “Today was the first day where I really just mentally kind of gave a couple away. Sometimes it happens.”

It’s evident that the culprit behind Morikawa’s misfortune was none other than greed. Despite playing exceptionally well throughout the tournament, Morikawa admitted to getting greedy on holes 9 and 11. He acknowledged that when playing at a high level, it’s crucial not to succumb to the allure of trying to hit shots too close to the pin. Greed can affect even the most talented golfers, as Morikawa experienced firsthand.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What was Collin Morikawa’s score in the final round of the Masters?

Collin Morikawa finished the final round of the Masters with a score of two over par.

How did Collin Morikawa perform in the 2024 Masters?

Collin Morikawa finished the 2024 Masters tied for third place with Tommy Fleetwood and Max Homa.

What caused Collin Morikawa’s struggles in the final round?

Collin Morikawa mentioned that getting greedy on certain holes, specifically holes 9 and 11, led to his difficulties in the final round of the Masters.

How did Collin Morikawa describe his performance in the tournament?

Collin Morikawa mentioned that despite the disappointing finish, he saw a lot of positives throughout the week and acknowledged that this year had been unusual for him.