Collin Morikawa has put on a putting masterclass to claim the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St.George’s.
Collin Morikawa has claimed his second major championship after winning the 2021 Open Championship by two strokes carding a final-round 4-under par 66.
Morikawa won the US PGA Championship at his first attempt last year and the American repeated the feat in his first appearance at an Open Championship.
A dream debut
Congratulations, Collin Morikawa, Champion Golfer of the Year
#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/x1TfIPewYI
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2021
In benign conditions for an Open Championship, Morikawa took the lead and held off a late challenge from Jordan Spieth with an incredible display of putting.
Morikawa becomes just the second golfer to win the US PGA and The Open Championship at just 24-years of age.
Looking in control of the tournament for the first three days, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen never got going in the opening nine holes dropping two shots.
A near hole-in-one at the par-3 11th when Ooosthuizen’s golf ball bounced off the flagstick had golf fans wondering if the 2011 champion was going to make his move.
Incredible shot. #TheOpenpic.twitter.com/PogYulbOkN
— AussieGolfer
(@AussieGolfer) July 18, 2021
Oosthuizen could only watch on as Morikawa stormed into the lead thanks to three consecutive birdies before the turn, finishing the round with eight one-putt holes in a phenomenal display on the greens.
It’s was hard to believe that Morikawa is ranked 176th for putting on the PGA Tour this season and looked very uncomfortable on the greens at last week’s Scottish Open.
Jon Rahm battled a cold putter for most of the opening nine holes before catching fire with four consecutive birdies from the 13th hole.
The biggest challenger however came from 2017 Open champion Jordan Spieth.
Despite two bogeys in his opening six holes, Spieth pulled within one stroke of Morikawa after a birdie at the par-5 14th hole.
Minutes later, Morikawa again showed his magic with the short stick holing a difficult, undulating birdie putt on the same hole to come home with a two-stroke buffer and to raise The Claret Jug.
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