Morikawa wins Pebble Beach, first PGA Tour victory since ’23

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Collin Morikawa Wins AT&T pebble Beach Pro-Am in Dramatic Finish

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.— ‍Collin Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach ‍Pro-Am on Sunday, February 18, 2024, ⁣after a thrilling final round that saw multiple lead changes and a dramatic finish. He defeated Scottie Scheffler and byeong Hun Lee in a three-way playoff.

Morikawa and his‍ wife are expecting their first child this spring.

“There’s so much to life, there’s so much to enjoy,” he said.

Scheffler began the final⁣ day eight shots behind and was 7 ‍under through seven holes before the wind began whipping. He had ‍three eagles in his round of 65, the last one a ⁢6-iron ⁤to 30‍ inches‍ on the final hole that allowed him to tie Morikawa ⁢for the lead.

“I was vrey ⁤aware of Scottie Scheffler’s score today.I ‍mean, what⁣ a player,” Morikawa said.

Scheffler didn’t think it would be⁢ enough,and it wasn’t.

Moments⁣ later, morikawa holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th to take the lead. He followed with a 6-iron into 8⁤ feet for another birdie. But a bogey on⁤ the par-3 17th — his tee shot was dangerously close to the ocean left of the green — and Lee finishing ⁣birdie-birdie ⁣for a 67, created another ⁤tie.

For all the drama, it was particularly⁤ tense on the par-5 18th as Morikawa waited. And waited. It was 20 minutes ‍from hitting his tee shot to hitting his 4-iron, a wait made longer⁢ considering what was at stake.

“I was able to pull off a great 4-iron,” he said. ⁤”And man, I need ⁣a drink.”

Akshay Bhatia, the 54-hole leader by two shots,⁢ made ⁢only two birdies over his last 29 holes. He fell out of the lead after four holes and never caught up, closing with a 72 to finish three back.

Scheffler⁢ was 10 ‍shots behind after the first day when he shot 72.He was 13 shots back at one point Friday. He still managed⁢ to be a major threat. He⁤ wound up in ‍a tie for second with Lee (67), extending his streak to 18 PGA Tour starts in the⁣ top 10.

He became the first player in tour history to have three eagles in a round at Pebble Beach.

“I had to do something special to ⁣give myself a chance,” Scheffler said. ⁢”The back nine,I felt‍ like I had to ⁣get to ⁤21 or 22 (under). I played a bit more⁢ aggressive than I normally am. It was a fun day overall. these are the weeks⁤ I’m‍ proud of. I⁢ felt ⁢like⁣ I was battling to give myself a chance.”

Among his regrets was a wedge to a back pin on the 15th that was ⁤a foot away from‍ spinning back to close range. ⁤It⁤ hopped hard over the green. ⁢He chipped to 6 feet and missed the par putt.

Morikawa charged his⁢ way into the mix with‍ a⁣ 66 on Saturday ⁣to get within two shots of bhatia, and he did⁣ enough right⁤ to stay close — six players had a share of the lead at some point during the final round — until delivering at the⁢ end.

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