Collin Morikawa’s Pebble Beach Victory Signals the Return of a Champion We’d Almost Forgotten

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a player rediscover himself at exactly the right moment. Collin Morikawa’s victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Sunday wasn’t just another Tour win—it was a punctuation mark on a chapter many of us wondered had been left open too long.

In 35 years covering professional golf, I’ve learned that the gap between a two-time major champion and a player searching for relevance can close faster than you’d think. But it can also widen in ways that feel permanent. Morikawa hadn’t won since the Zozo Championship in October 2023—nearly 27 months ago. In golf’s modern ecosystem, that’s an eternity.

What struck me most about Morikawa’s 22-under finish wasn’t the final score or even the dramatic up-and-down on 18 (though that certainly mattered). It was the manner in which he seized the lead down the stretch. After rolling in that magnificent 30-footer at the 15th—the shot that moved him into sole possession of first—Morikawa didn’t panic when adversity came calling. The bogey at 17 that tied him with Min Woo Lee could have unraveled him. Instead, he regrouped, deployed textbook course management at 18, and executed.

“Collin Morikawa conquers Pebble Beach and wins AT&T Pro-Am”

That’s championship golf, plain and simple.

A Field That Demanded Excellence

Let’s not overlook the quality of opposition he faced. Scottie Scheffler, playing nine-under through 13 holes, made a legitimate charge despite entering the final round eight shots back. The World No. 1 finished 20-under with three eagles in his round—a 63 that would have won most tournaments. Sam Burns, who’s developed into one of the Tour’s most consistent ball-strikers, pushed hard with five birdies in seven holes during his charge. Even Min Woo Lee’s late-round assault at 21-under forced Morikawa to make putts when it mattered most.

Having caddied for Tom Lehman back in the ’90s, I learned early that winning in February means something. It’s a statement of intent. The Tour’s schedule has become so compressed, and the field at Pebble always so strong, that February victories carry weight. This wasn’t a soft field or ideal conditions—this was a genuine, wire-to-wire battle against quality opposition.

“After rolling his lag putt up to under a foot, the American watches Bhatia make par and then sees Straka drain his eagle to get to 21-under. Straka moves into a share of second with Lee, but it’s Morikawa’s moment as he rolls in his birdie to shoot a five-under 67 and 22-under tournament total.”

What I found particularly encouraging was Morikawa’s composure in that final group. Jacob Bridgeman, the young gun from the class of 2022, was breathing down his neck most of the day. Bridgeman eventually faltered with that unfortunate chunk shot from the rocks on 18, but Morikawa never knew it was coming. He simply played his own game, made the shots available to him, and trusted his preparation.

The Emotional Component

There’s also something about the timing of this win that adds another layer. Morikawa posted an emotional message to the fans following his victory, along with a personal note to his future baby. Having covered enough Tour events to understand the pressure these athletes carry, I recognize what that kind of vulnerability means. It suggests this win represents more than a tournament result—it’s a recalibration of how he sees himself professionally at a critical moment in his life.

In my experience, when players combine personal milestones with competitive resurgence, the trajectory that follows often points upward. Morikawa has the talent to win multiple majors. He has the short game. He has the temperament. What he’d been missing was that intangible thing—the feeling that it’s still happening, that he hasn’t peaked.

Sunday at Pebble Beach, he found it again.

The Broader Picture

The field also included Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, who posted a clean 17-under with an eight-under 64 that included zero bogeys. Tommy Fleetwood finished 20-under with a late-round charge. Hideki Matsuyama, who came up just short in Phoenix the week prior, posted another top-10 effort. This wasn’t a tournament decided by default—it was decided by a player making crucial putts and maintaining focus while legitimate contenders pressed from every direction.

“The two-time Major winner is searching for a first win since the 2023 Zozo Championship and is now two shots clear at 22-under.”

For those wondering whether Morikawa still belonged in conversations about the Tour’s elite, Sunday answered that question. He didn’t just win; he won the right way, closing out on one of golf’s most demanding stages against the Tour’s best players.

Sometimes in this job, you cover a tournament result and file it away. Other times, you cover a moment that quietly reframes how a player’s career narrative has been trending. Collin Morikawa’s Pebble Beach victory feels like the latter. He’s reminded everyone—including, perhaps, himself—why he earned his reputation in the first place.