Collin Morikawa's Near Perfect Round Not Quite Enough in Rocket Mortgage Playoff Loss
Updated
Collin Morikawa’s victory drought will extend for at least another week, but the 26-year-old Cal grad played a spectacular final round at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit on Sunday before succumbing.
Morikawa shot an 8-under 64 to close a four-stroke deficit entering the day and forcing a three-way playoff with Rickie Fowler and Adam Hadwin.
Fowler made a 12-foot putt to birdie the 474-yard, par-4 18th hole to end things on the first playoff hole, snapping his own four-year stretch without a victory.
Morikawa's approach shot in the playoff was just inches beyond the hole and it skipped into the rough. His chip from there was short.
"I truly thought I hit the perfect shot," Morikawa said. "It just was a little juiced, went a little far and just didn't have the putter in the hand. Not that the chip wasn't possible, but would have been nice to have the putter in the hand."
Morikawa and Hadwin, a 35-year-old Canadian ranked No. 71 in the world, wound up in a tie for second place, each pocketing $783,200. Fowler won $1,584,000.
Collin Morikawa
Photo by Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA Today
Morikawa, who hasn’t won a tournament since the 2021 Open in Britain nearly two full years ago, played nearly flawless golf for four days. The world’s 20th-ranked player had eight birdies without a bogey on Sunday and finished at 24 under par with 21 birdies, two eagles and just one bogey over 72 holes.
His four rounds in Detroit: 66-67-67-64.
Over his past 90 holes, dating back to his final round last week at the Travelers, Morikawa played 31 strokes under par with 28 birdies, two eagles and just a single bogey.
Morikawa made par on the final hole of regulation - just missing a birdie putt that spun off the upper lip of the hole - while Fowler birdied to force his way into the playoff.
Neither Morikawa, Fowler or Hadwin had a bogey on Sunday.
For Fowler, the victory ended a drought of 4 years, 4 months, 29 days since his most recent win at the 2019 WM Phoenix Open.
Morikawa, whose 64 missed the course record by one stroke, was happy for Fowler.
"He's been playing phenomenal golf, it's great to see," he said. "People love him."
Max Homa — Morikawa’s fellow Cal alum — wound up tied for 21st at 15 under after a final-round score of 5-under 67 that was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 15th hole.
"I missed every 7- to 12-footer of the week so decided just to aim closer to the hole," Homa said. "It was like a perfect pitching wedge. It was like if it landed short I thought it would skip forward. If it landed where it did, it should get close.
"I made a good swing on it. Couldn't see it. I've made two (holes-on-one) out here (ought PGA Tour) now -- couldn't see either of them. One day I'd like to see one of them, but it's cool to hear the roar. . . . One day I'd like to see it so I could freak out myself."
Ranked No. 9 in the world, Homa also sprinkled in five birdies and two bogeys over his final 18 holes.
Homa said he played "easy" all week, but didn't putt well. "I hit it awesome," he said. "Played great every day, tee to green. Keeping p with 20, 23 under is hard unless you're making some putts. Hopefully, get that figured out in my week off."
Cover photo of Collin Morikawa by Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo