Morikawa’s not the new Tiger; he’s the young Collin

He’s not the new Tiger Woods. He’s the young Collin Morikawa, who as Tiger did more than once, won the old British Open. And yes, you are allowed to draw comparisons, if not conclusions.

The victory Sunday at the Open at Royal St. George’s on the Channel may have been the culmination of a nearly flawless week of golf for Morikawa.

 But it was far from the culmination of a budding career, which if it doesn’t make us forget Tiger—who is unforgettable-- seems destined to make us remember Collin.

Roughly a month after he grabbed the PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco, the 24-year-old Morikawa became the youngest player ever—ever—to win two majors.

Tiger did a lot of things; did virtually everything—won 15 majors, won 82 tournaments overall. But he didn’t do that. Nor did Jack Nicklaus. Or Gene Sarazen. Or Ben Hogan or Gary Player, albeit over the years each won all the four majors.

In getting halfway there, Morikawa on Sunday, shot a bogey free 4-under par 66. His four-round total of 265,15-under par was an Open record for St. George’s, where the tournament was played for a 15th time.

Two shots back at 267 was Jordan Spieth, who ruined his chances by finishing bogey-bogey on Saturday. Jon Rahm, winner of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June, and Louis Oosthuizen, who was in front the first three days and closed with a 1-over 71, tied for third at 269.

Tiger grew up in southern California, Orange County, became one-of-kind star by overwhelming amateur golf and then headed north to Stanford.

Collin grew up in southern California, the L.A. suburb of Flintridge; he idolized Tiger but after dominating the game in his area, headed north to Cal, Stanford’s rival.

Woods left school after two years and quickly enough along with a victory, made the cut his first 25 tournaments as a pro, Morikawa didn’t leave school until he had his business degree and made the cut his first 22 tournaments as a pro.

  A couple of golden kids from the Golden State

Morikawa never had been on a linksland course where the Open has been played throughout its centuries-long history, until the Scottish Open a week before the British, but the conditions at St. George’s were pleasant and the bounces kind.

 He changed the way he held his putter, adapting to greens slower than those at majors in the U.S, and almost before he –and we—knew it was holding the winner’s trophy the famed claret jug.

 “You have to embrace it,” said Morikawa, meaning the moment as well as the hardware. “You have to be excited about these opportunities.”

For sure the fans were. Other than the crowds at the Masters—sorry, “patrons” – maybe nobody understands and appreciates the beauty and skills of the golfers than those fans at the Open.

 Because of the pandemic and the postponement of the St. George’s Open from 2020 to 2021, the fans were particularly eager to get involved. And Morikawa, whose PGA victory at Harding took place on empty, silent fairways, was delighted. “I hope this thing is off the table,” he said of Covid-19 restrictions, “that we can play with fans, and I can play on a Sunday.

Which is when a tournament is decided.

 “When you make history” said Morikawa, offering no pretense of humility, “it’s hard to grasp. It’s hard to really take in.”

What’s not hard is to understand that Colin Morikawa’s future in golf is brilliant. He doesn’t have to be Tiger Woods. Nobody can.

He just needs to be Colin Morikawa.