PLAYER PROFILE · PGA TOUR
Collin Morikawa arrived fully formed. Within two years of turning professional he had won two major championships – each on his first attempt – on the strength of the most admired iron play in the modern game. Few players in history have made elite golf look so controlled, so precise, so entirely without drama.
| Full name | Collin Morikawa |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 February 1997, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Turned pro | 2019 |
| Primary tour | PGA Tour |
| Height | 5′ 9″ (1.75 m) |
| Major championships | 2 (2020 PGA, 2021 Open) |
| Notable | Won both majors on debut appearance |
| College | University of California, Berkeley |
Early Life & College
Morikawa grew up in Los Angeles, the son of parents of Japanese and Chinese heritage, and went east across the bay to the University of California, Berkeley, where he combined a business-administration degree with one of the most consistent amateur records in college golf. He turned professional in 2019, and the transition to the paid ranks was almost seamless – he opened his career with twenty-two consecutive made cuts, a run of reliability bettered in the modern era only by Tiger Woods.
Two Majors, Both on Debut
What sets Morikawa apart is not merely that he won two majors young, but the manner of it. At the 2020 PGA Championship – his first appearance in the event – he drove the green at the short par-four sixteenth in the final round and holed the eagle putt that sealed it, at TPC Harding Park, a course he had played as a college student. A year later, on his first visit to an Open Championship, he closed out Royal St George’s with a Sunday of ball-striking so pure it left seasoned observers reaching for superlatives. Not since Bobby Jones in 1926 had a player won two majors in so few starts.
The Iron Game
If one skill defines Morikawa it is the quality of his iron play. He is, by wide consensus, among the very best ball-strikers of his time – a player whose control of trajectory and curvature, particularly his signature fade, allows him to attack pins that others must play safely away from. He is not the longest hitter, and there have been seasons in which the putter has cost him, but the approach play is a constant, a baseline of excellence that keeps him in contention whenever the rest of the game cooperates.
Off the Course
Reserved and famously even-tempered, Morikawa carries himself with a maturity that has been evident since his first days on tour. He married Katherine Zhu in 2022 and makes his home in Las Vegas. In 2021 he became the first American to win the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, a marker of ambition beyond the American circuit, and he remains one of the most respected and quietly driven figures among the sport’s younger elite.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many majors has Collin Morikawa won?
Collin Morikawa has won two major championships – the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park and the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St George’s. Remarkably, he won each on his debut appearance in that championship.
How old is Collin Morikawa and where is he from?
Morikawa was born on 6 February 1997 in Los Angeles, California. He is of Japanese and Chinese descent, played college golf at the University of California, Berkeley, and turned professional in 2019.
Why is Collin Morikawa known for his iron play?
Morikawa is regarded as one of the finest iron players and ball-strikers of his generation, renowned for the precision and control of his approach shots. His trademark shot is a tightly controlled fade that he can flight and shape at will – a skill that has underpinned both of his major wins.
What records did Collin Morikawa set early in his career?
Morikawa began his PGA Tour career with 22 consecutive made cuts, a streak second only to Tiger Woods’ 25. By winning two majors in eight or fewer starts he became the first player since Bobby Jones in 1926 to do so, and he later became the first American to win the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai.
Which tour does Collin Morikawa play on?
Morikawa plays on the PGA Tour, where he has established himself as one of the leading American players of his era.