Morikawa Turns Around Rough Start to Crack Top 10 at Masters

Collin Morikawa had every reason to pack it in before the final round even began. Dealing with persistent back pain that had him swinging at what he estimated as 50 percent capacity, the two-time major champion had not competed since withdrawing from the Players Championship last month. An opening-round 74 did nothing to suggest a turnaround was coming.

But something shifted on Sunday at Augusta National. Standing on the 12th green after a difficult front nine, Morikawa turned to caddie Mark Urbanek with a simple message: let us try and do something special.

At that moment, Morikawa was 1-over through 11 holes and trailing the lead by seven strokes. What happened next defied logic. He holed a 20-footer on number 12, then made five consecutive birdies to close out a final-round 68 that rocketed him up the leaderboard. He finished tied for seventh.

This blew away any expectations I had for the week, Morikawa admitted afterward. Honestly, for me it was just survive each day. The physical challenge was real, but the mental approach kept him in it. After that opening 74, he signed for 69, 68, and 68 across his final three rounds, a steady climb that made his Sunday charge possible.

The result carried extra weight given his circumstances. Morikawa revealed he is expecting the birth of his first child soon, and that upcoming chapter has only added motivation to get fully healthy. I want to be able to pick him up, roll around, play with him, Morikawa said. I have got some work to do to get fully healthy, and we are going to find a way to make sure I am back.

For a player who has won the PGA Championship and The Open Championship, a top-10 finish at the Masters might seem like a baseline expectation. But given how uncertain this week looked as recently as Thursday morning, Morikawa climb into the top 10 felt like a breakthrough of its own kind. It is going to be one of the best tournaments, forever, he said. I am going to remember this one for many reasons, but just more how strong the mind is. That round on Sunday will stick with him long after the leaderboard fades, a reminder of what is possible when the body fights through limitations and the mind stays locked in.