Morikawa Triumphs at the ZOZO Championship
In a stunning display of skill and composure, Collin Morikawa clinched victory at the 2023 ZOZO Championship, marking his first PGA Tour win since the 2021 Open Championship. The tournament, which boasted an $8.5 million purse, saw Morikawa take home a substantial winner's share of $1,530,000.
The event, held from October 19 to October 22, featured notable golfers such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. However, it was Morikawa who dominated the field, finishing at 14-under par and securing a commanding six-shot lead over his closest competitors.
A Return to Form
This victory is a significant milestone for Morikawa, signaling a return to the top echelon of golf after a two-year hiatus from the winner's circle. His last tour win at the 2021 Open Championship had set high expectations for the young golfer's career, and this win at the ZOZO Championship reaffirms his status as one of the game's elite players.
Runners-Up and Top Finishers
Eric Cole and Beau Hossler shared the runner-up spot, both finishing the tournament with impressive scores of 8-under each. Their performance earned them a handsome payout of $748,000 apiece. Not far behind, Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton tied for fourth place with a score of 7-under, each taking home $374,000.
The competition remained fierce further down the leaderboard. Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun all tied for sixth place at 6-under par, earning themselves $275,187.50 each. Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under, were awarded $221,000 each for their efforts.
Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira ended the tournament in a three-way tie for twelfth place at 4-under par, each pocketing $178,500. Matt NeSmith secured fifteenth place at 3-under, earning a prize of $151,640.
Competitive Spirit and Inclusivity
The ZOZO Championship is unique in that it provides all participants with prize money, a decision that underscores the event's commitment to inclusivity and ensures that every competitor is compensated for their participation. This format supports competitiveness across the field, regardless of stature or ranking.
Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery finished tied for sixteenth at 2-under, each earning $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala, who tied for nineteenth place at 1-under, received $112,710 each.
Players who found themselves knotted at twenty-first place with an even-par score took home $73,610 each. Those tied for thirty-first place at 1-over par were awarded around $46,167, while golfers tied for thirty-eighth place at 2-over par earned $36,210 each.
The forty-first place tie at 3-over saw players earn $27,710 each. A score of 4-over led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with those golfers receiving $20,230 each. Further down, players tied for fifty-first place at 5-over par were given $17,743.75 each.
As scores increased, so did the number of ties. Players tied for fifty-ninth place scored 6-over par and earned $16,490 each. A group tied for sixty-fourth place at 7-over par took home $15,725 each, and those tied for sixty-eighth place at 8-over par earned $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. Tied for seventy-third at 10-over par, each player involved earned $14,280. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured earnings of $13,940. Ben Taylor, who finished seventy-seventh at 20-over par, took home $13,770.
Looking Ahead
Morikawa's emphatic win at the ZOZO Championship not only adds a significant title to his growing list of achievements but also sets the stage for what fans hope will be a series of captivating performances in future tournaments. As the payout structure reflects a sport that values its players and strives to maintain a competitive spirit, the focus