The tears came before the trophy presentation. Standing on the 18th green at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Collin Morikawa embraced his wife Katherine with an intensity that spoke to something far deeper than golf.
After nearly two and a half years without a victory, Morikawa had just closed out a one-stroke win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a final-round 67 to finish at 22-under par. But the emotion pouring out wasn’t just about ending a drought. It was about life, perspective and the journey that brought him to this moment.
“We’re expecting later this year, in a few months, and we just started telling people this week,” Morikawa revealed moments after his win. “We said what a better way, the best way to announce it to the world if I was able to win.”
The announcement added a layer of profound meaning to an already significant victory. For a player who won two major championships before his 25th birthday, the winless stretch had been challenging. But becoming a father has a way of reshaping what matters.
“There’s so much to life, there’s so much to enjoy,” Morikawa said, his voice still thick with emotion. “I’m just so thankful for the people around me, my team, Kat, my wife, her parents, brother.”
A Performance Built on Belief
The victory didn’t come easy. Morikawa had to navigate a crowded leaderboard and challenging conditions over the final two days at Pebble Beach. After opening with rounds of 67-68, he exploded with a third-round 62 that vaulted him into contention. That Saturday performance showcased the iron play that has defined his career, as he led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach to the Green for the week with a staggering 9.681.
“I think believing in myself,” Morikawa said when asked what he was most proud of. “I know everyone behind me and my team, like I said, my wife, they’ve all been with me and they knew it was going to come. I never let go of that.”
The final round tested that belief. Playing alongside Sepp Straka, who finished tied for second with Min Woo Lee at 21-under, Morikawa faced a nearly 20-minute wait on the 18th tee. The delay could have derailed his focus, but he kept moving, kept swinging, kept believing.
“It’s weird to say, but these long breaks, I mean, it’s just not good for anyone to stand still,” he explained. “I just was kind of swinging my club, swinging an 8-iron and just was able to pull off a great 4-iron, two-putt.”
Straka, who had a front-row seat to Morikawa’s performance, couldn’t help but marvel at what he witnessed. “His iron play down the stretch really all day was great,” Straka said. “He’s one of the best iron players of our generation probably.”
A Weekend of Drama and Storylines
The final two days at Pebble Beach delivered everything golf fans could want. Weather concerns loomed throughout, with players uncertain Saturday morning whether they’d even tee off. The conditions added an element of unpredictability that kept the leaderboard in constant flux.
Scottie Scheffler made the most dramatic Sunday charge, firing a 64 with three eagles to finish tied for fourth at 20-under. “Anytime you’ve got three eagles in one round, good things are happening,” Scheffler said. His performance marked back-to-back strong finishes in Signature Events.
Rory McIlroy posted the day’s best round with an 8-under 64, jumping 25 positions to finish tied for 14th. Despite making three double bogeys and a triple during the week, McIlroy showed flashes of brilliance. “I played 68 really good ones and if I could have those four holes back this week,” he reflected.
Min Woo Lee’s closing 65 earned him a share of second place and continued his strong start to the season. “I’m very proud of the way I handled myself today and end of the week,” Lee said. “Played a lot of good golf, which is nice, and been trending.”
Looking Forward
For Morikawa, this victory represents more than just a return to form. It’s a new beginning. As he prepares for next week’s event at Riviera in his hometown of Los Angeles, he’s determined to stay present rather than looking too far ahead.
“I think I look back when I first turned pro and I had some wins, I just looked too far ahead,” he admitted. “Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not. I think I’m going to change that perspective and just enjoy where I’m at right now.”
With a victory at Pebble Beach, a baby on the way and renewed confidence in his game, Morikawa has every reason to savor this moment. The tears on the 18th green weren’t just about golf. They were about life, love and the beautiful journey ahead.