PGA Championship 2020: Collin Morikawa Wins 1st Career Major at 23 Years Old

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

What a day of golf. 

After a number of lead changes and a tight pack remaining in contention late into Sunday, Collin Morikawa managed to pull away from the pack, shooting a 64 in the final round to finish 13 under for the tournament and win the PGA Championship in San Francisco. 

PGA Championship @PGAChampionship

Collin Morikawa ties the lowest final round score ever shot by a PGA Champion.

@collin_morikawa | #PGAChamp https://t.co/NaK1mdr7Wy

GOLFonCBS @GOLFonCBS

“The California kid is the new star in the game of golf!”

Collin Morikawa wins the 2020 PGA Championship! https://t.co/ncMOnAQMim

It was Morikawa's first major title and put the 23-year-old in some elite company:

Kyle Porter @KylePorterCBS

Is this a good group for Morikawa to join? https://t.co/1ZwZSggjf2

Morikawa didn't play like someone who had never won a major before:

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

✅ 1st in Proximity
✅ 1st in Driving Accuracy
✅ 1st in SG: Putting
✅ 1st on the leaderboard

Have yourself a week, @Collin_Morikawa! 🏆

#PGAChamp https://t.co/APbQ9JBbh3

ESPN @espn

Collin Morikawa becomes the youngest player to break 65 in the final round of a major victory EVER.

Now, he's a major champion 🏆 https://t.co/O6bDhxS4XQ

ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo

Collin Morikawa had a weekend to remember at TPC Harding Park. He won the PGA Championship for his 1st career major title & did so by shooting 129 (65-64) over the final two rounds.

That's the best score in the final two rounds of a major by any player all-time. https://t.co/kuiWk7D7Dd

Jason Sobel @JasonSobelTAN

Collin Morikawa turned pro 14 months ago. He's since made $6,898,977 in on-course earnings.

Shane Bacon @shanebacon

Huge sporting events always feel more special when they're WON. When a player or team seizes the moment when the outcome is in question. Just 45 minutes ago we were talking a seven-person playoff and then Collin Morikawa walked on the 16th tee and decided history was his today.

The 16th hole was Morikawa's key moment. With the tournament still up for grabs, Morikawa hit a drive for the ages and followed it up with an eagle, pulling two strokes ahead. 

It was the defining moment of the tournament and his young career:

GOLFonCBS @GOLFonCBS

Morikawa finishes off the eagle on the Par 4.

Again, unreal. https://t.co/QcHfvQSazz

Kyle Porter @KylePorterCBS

The lesson this week (as always): Never lay up. https://t.co/p7HvxjP9Zp

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“What a shot he hit on 16,” Paul Casey, who finished in a tie for second with Dustin Johnson at 11 under, told reporters after the round. “Awesome show. There's nothing you can do other than tip your cap to that.”

“He's a hell of a player. He's really good,” added 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka (-3), who generally is at his best at majors but surprisingly struggled Sunday, shooting a 74 that left him out of contention. “You see these guys coming out of college now, they are ready to win. It's impressive what they do. They come out of college and they're ready to play out here. Hats off to him.”

Even Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was impressed, and all that guy has done is win an MVP award and a Super Bowl title by the age of 24:

Patrick Mahomes II @PatrickMahomes

That was a big time shot and putt! @collin_morikawa #PGAChampionship

Morikawa's only stumble came when received his trophy:

GOLF.com @GOLF_com

Steady as can be with a club in his hands, not so much with a trophy… https://t.co/pQP0pE9VqH

It was a far more disappointing day for the aforementioned Johnson, who led after 54 holes and didn't play poorly on Sunday, shooting a 68. But he couldn't do enough to hold off Morikawa. That, sadly, has become a theme for Johnson at the majors:

Nick Menta @NickMentaGC

Dustin Johnson is now 0-for-4 trying to convert a 54-hole lead in a major.

2010 U.S. Open
2015 U.S. Open
2018 U.S. Open
2020 PGA Championship

Other notable scores for the tournament included Jason Day (-10), Patrick Reed (-7), Rory McIlroy (-2), Tiger Woods (-1), Justin Thomas (-1), Jordan Spieth ( 4), Bubba Watson ( 4) and Phil Mickelson ( 4). 

But the day belonged to Morikawa, the PGA Tour's newest shooting star. It doesn't seem likely that Sunday's triumph will be his last.