Morikawa Clinches Victory at the 2023 ZOZO Championship
In a remarkable display of skill and composure, Collin Morikawa has triumphed at the 2023 ZOZO Championship, marking his first PGA Tour victory in two years. The tournament, boasting an impressive $8.5 million purse, witnessed Morikawa securing the winner's share of $1,530,000. The event, which ran from October 19 to October 22, featured notable golfers like Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, yet it was Morikawa who emerged victorious, finishing at 14-under par.
A Commanding Lead
Morikawa's performance was nothing short of dominant as he finished with a six-shot lead over the runners-up. This win serves as a testament to his growth and resilience since his last tour win at the 2021 Open Championship. Throughout the tournament, Morikawa showcased the poise and precision that have become hallmarks of his game, allowing him to navigate the course with apparent ease.
Runners-Up and Notable Finishes
The fight for second place ended in a tie between Eric Cole and Beau Hossler, who both carded an 8-under each, earning them $748,000 apiece. Close behind them were Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton, sharing fourth place with scores of 7-under, resulting in earnings of $374,000 each. The leaderboard was tightly packed, with Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun all tying for sixth place at 6-under, taking home $275,187.50 each.
Further down the list, Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh tied for tenth place with a respectable 5-under, each pocketing $221,000. The trio of Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira ended the tournament tied for twelfth place at 4-under, each earning $178,500. Matt NeSmith claimed fifteenth place at 3-under par, securing a payout of $151,640.
Additional Payouts
Competitors who finished further down the leaderboard also received their share of the prize money. Tying for sixteenth place at 2-under were Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery, each earning $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala, who tied for nineteenth place at 1-under, were awarded $112,710 each.
Players who scored even-par found themselves tied for twenty-first place, receiving $73,610 each. Those who finished at 1-over par tied for thirty-first place, with earnings around $46,167. A score of 2-over par led to a tie for thirty-eighth place, yielding each player $36,210. Golfers in forty-first place, scoring 3-over, took home $27,710 each.
As the scores increased, so did the ties, with a 4-over score leading to a tie for forty-eighth place, where golfers earned $20,230 each. Fifty-first place finishers, scoring 5-over par, received $17,743.75 each. Players tied for fifty-ninth place with a score of 6-over par earned $16,490 each, while those tied for sixty-fourth place at 7-over par took home $15,725 each. The payouts continued to reflect the inclusive structure of the tournament, with players tied for sixty-eighth place at 8-over par earning $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. Meanwhile, the seventy-third place tie at 10-over par saw each player involved earn $14,280. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured $13,940, and Ben Taylor, finishing seventy-seventh at 20-over par, received $13,770.
An Inclusive Tournament Structure
The ZOZO Championship's payout structure is designed to ensure all participants are compensated for their efforts. With no cut in the tournament, each golfer who tees off is guaranteed prize money, reinforcing the spirit of competitiveness and inclusivity within the sport. This approach not only rewards performance but also supports the professional careers of the athletes involved.
Morikawa's Triumphant Return
Morikawa's victory at the ZOZO Championship signals a return to the top echelons of the golfing world. After a two-year