Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa Bio

Collin Morikawa is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. Born on February 6, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, he turned professional in 2019 and quickly established himself as one of the most consistent young players in the sport. He is best known for winning two major championships, the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship, both in his debut appearances in those events. Morikawa also became the first American to win the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.

Of Chinese-Japanese descent, Morikawa graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2019 with a degree in business administration. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, and reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of number two in October 2021. By 2026, he had collected seven PGA Tour victories and four European Tour victories, cementing his place among the elite players of his generation.

Early Life and Background

Collin Morikawa was born on February 6, 1997, in Los Angeles, California, to parents Debbie and Blaine Morikawa. He is of Chinese-Japanese descent and grew up in the Los Angeles area, later graduating from La Cañada High School in La Cañada Flintridge, located in Los Angeles County. His family supported his early interest in golf, and he began playing the sport at a young age, developing the smooth swing and calm temperament that would later define his professional career.

Morikawa distinguished himself as a junior golfer well before reaching college. He won the Western Junior, the Trans-Mississippi Amateur, the Sunnehanna Amateur, and the Northeast Amateur, four of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the United States. In May 2018, he spent three weeks as the top-ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, a remarkable achievement that signaled his readiness for the professional stage.

After high school, Morikawa enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he played collegiate golf from 2015 to 2019. During his time with the California Golden Bears, he won five times, including the 2019 Pac-12 Conference Championship. He also represented the United States in several prestigious team events, playing on the winning Arnold Palmer Cup teams in 2017 and 2018, the winning Walker Cup team in 2017, and the Eisenhower Trophy team in 2018, which finished second by one stroke.

Path to Golf

Morikawa’s path to the PGA Tour was built on a foundation of elite amateur results and steady development at the University of California, Berkeley. His amateur victories in marquee junior events drew attention from coaches and selectors, leading to invitations to represent the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup, Walker Cup, and Eisenhower Trophy. These international team experiences sharpened his competitive edge and prepared him for the demands of professional tournament golf.

After completing his degree in business administration in 2019, Morikawa made the decision to forgo further amateur golf and turn professional. His smooth transition was aided by his polished ball-striking and the consistency that had already become his trademark. Within months of leaving Berkeley, he had secured his PGA Tour card and begun the run of consecutive made cuts that would announce his arrival on the game’s biggest stage.

Collin Morikawa Career

Early Career (2019)

Morikawa made his professional debut at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, where he tied for 14th place. A few weeks later, he tied for second at the 3M Open and followed that with a tie for fourth at the John Deere Classic, a finish that secured his PGA Tour membership for the 2019-20 season. Just two weeks after locking up his card, he won his first PGA Tour event at the Barracuda Championship, beating Troy Merritt by three points.

That rookie season launched one of the most remarkable streaks in modern PGA Tour history. Morikawa opened his professional career with 22 consecutive made cuts, a run that stood as the second-longest streak to begin a career, trailing only the 25 consecutive cuts made by Tiger Woods. The consistency immediately separated him from his peers and set the stage for a rapid climb up the world rankings.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (2020-2021)

The 2020 season marked Morikawa’s true arrival among the game’s elite. After finishing as runner-up at the Charles Schwab Challenge, the first PGA Tour event played following a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he captured his second PGA Tour title at the Workday Charity Open, beating Justin Thomas in a playoff. That summer, he won the 2020 PGA Championship at age 23, becoming the third youngest golfer to win the event and the fourth to win it before turning 24. His final-round 64 tied the lowest final round ever shot by a PGA Championship winner.

In 2021, Morikawa added the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession Golf Club, winning by three strokes over Billy Horschel, Viktor Hovland, and Brooks Koepka. Months later, he traveled to Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent, England, and won the 2021 Open Championship by two strokes over Jordan Spieth. The victory made him the first player since Bobby Jones in 1926 to win two different majors in eight or fewer starts, and the first player ever to win two different majors in his debut appearance at each.

Morikawa closed the 2021 season by winning the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the European Tour’s season-ending event. That triumph also made him the first American to win the Race to Dubai. He capped the year as part of the victorious U.S. team at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, going 3-0-1 across his matches.

Recent Years (2022-2026)

After his historic 2021 campaign, Morikawa continued to compete near the top of the game. He tied for second at the 2022 Genesis Invitational, two shots behind Joaquín Niemann, and reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of number two in October 2021. Although he went through stretches without a victory, he remained one of the most consistent players on tour.

In January 2023, Morikawa held a six-shot lead after 54 holes at the Sentry Tournament of Champions but finished second, two strokes behind Jon Rahm, tying the PGA Tour record for the largest 54-hole lead squandered. He added a solo third at the Farmers Insurance Open and a tie for second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic later that summer. In October 2023, he ended a 27-month winless drought by capturing the Zozo Championship in Japan.

In February 2026, Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am by one stroke over Min Woo Lee and Sepp Straka, ending a 28-month winless streak. The victory reaffirmed his status as one of the PGA Tour’s most reliable competitors heading into the next phase of his career.

Driving Style and Strengths

Morikawa is widely regarded as one of the purest ball-strikers of his generation. His iron play, particularly his crisp contact and consistent distance control, ranks among the best on the PGA Tour. He pairs that precision with a calm, measured temperament on the course, allowing him to perform well in high-pressure major championship settings. His dependable swing has translated across varied course types, from firm links layouts to target-style parkland courses.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among his most notable achievements, Morikawa is the first player to win two different major championships in his debut appearances, having won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship in his first tries at each. He is also the first American to win the Race to Dubai on the European Tour. He opened his PGA Tour career with 22 consecutive made cuts, the second-longest streak to start a career behind only Tiger Woods.

Collin Morikawa Career Wins

Collin Morikawa has compiled a strong and growing collection of professional victories across the PGA Tour and the European Tour. As of early 2026, he had recorded seven PGA Tour wins and four European Tour wins, including two major championships and one World Golf Championships title.

PGA Tour Highlights

Morikawa’s first PGA Tour win came at the 2019 Barracuda Championship. He added the Workday Charity Open in 2020 before capturing the 2020 PGA Championship, his first major title. In 2021, he won the WGC-Workday Championship and the Open Championship at Royal St George’s. In October 2023, he ended a long winless drought by winning the Zozo Championship. In February 2026, he added the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to his resume. His most recent PGA Tour victory heading into the 2025 season was the 2023 Zozo Championship.

Other Wins and Performances

On the European Tour, Morikawa won four events, highlighted by the 2021 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which also secured his historic Race to Dubai title. He has represented the United States in the Ryder Cup and has competed in the Olympic Games, finishing tied for third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before losing in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal.

Collin Morikawa Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Collin Morikawa is the son of Blaine Morikawa and Debbie Morikawa. He is of Chinese-Japanese descent and was raised in the Los Angeles area before attending the University of California, Berkeley. His family supported his development as a young golfer and backed his decision to turn professional in 2019.

Personal Life

Morikawa became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Katherine Zhu, in December 2021. The couple married on November 26, 2022. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2019 with a degree in business administration.

2025 Season Performance

Heading into the 2025 PGA Tour season, Collin Morikawa aimed to build on the momentum of his 2026 victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and reassert himself as a consistent contender in the major championships. Coming off a 28-month winless streak that ended at Pebble Beach, he sought to add a third major title to his resume, with the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship all on his calendar.

Throughout the 2025 season, Morikawa’s iron play and steady temperament remained his biggest strengths, and he was a regular presence in contention at elevated events. He continued to be ranked among the top players in the Official World Golf Ranking and was expected to play a central role for the United States in future Ryder Cup competitions.

Looking ahead, Morikawa’s combination of major championship experience, a polished swing, and proven consistency positioned him as one of the leading American players in the sport. With several prime years still ahead, he remained focused on adding to his major tally and contending for the FedExCup title in the seasons to come.