Morikawa Triumphs at 2023 ZOZO Championship
Collin Morikawa has returned to the winner's circle with a commanding performance at the 2023 ZOZO Championship, securing his first PGA Tour victory in two years. Morikawa's win came with a substantial prize from the tournament's $8.5 million purse, earning him a winner's share of $1,530,000.
The event, which ran from October 19 to October 22, featured notable golfers such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. However, it was Morikawa who stood out, finishing at an impressive 14-under par and holding a six-shot lead over the closest competitors.
Morikawa's last tour win was at the 2021 Open Championship, making this victory a significant marker of his return to form in top-level golf. His performance throughout the tournament reaffirmed his status as one of the game's elite players.
Competitive Field and Prize Money Breakdown
The ZOZO Championship is known for its no-cut policy, ensuring that all participants receive prize money. This structure not only supports competitiveness within the sport but also promotes inclusivity among the players.
Runners-up Eric Cole and Beau Hossler tied for second place, both carding an 8-under par. Their efforts were rewarded with a handsome payout of $748,000 each. Not far behind, Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place at 7-under, with each taking home $374,000.
The payouts continued to reflect the depth of talent in the field. A four-way tie for sixth place saw Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun finish at 6-under, each pocketing $275,187.50. Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under par, earned $221,000 apiece.
The earnings list extended further, with Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira tying for twelfth place at 4-under, each receiving $178,500. Matt NeSmith rounded out the top fifteen, finishing at 3-under par and earning $151,640.
Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery ended up in a three-way tie for sixteenth place at 2-under, each taking home $133,960. Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala, who tied for nineteenth place at 1-under, were awarded $112,710 each.
Players who finished at even-par tied for twenty-first place, each receiving $73,610. Those tied for thirty-first place at 1-over par had earnings around $46,167, while players tied for thirty-eighth place at 2-over par took home $36,210 each.
The forty-first place tie at 3-over saw players earn $27,710 each. A score of 4-over led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with those golfers earning $20,230 apiece. Continuing down the leaderboard, players tied for fifty-first place at 5-over par received $17,743.75 each.
Further ties included players at 6-over for fifty-ninth place, earning $16,490 each, and a group at 7-over for sixty-fourth place, taking home $15,725 each. Those tied for sixty-eighth place at 8-over par earned $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. The seventy-third place tie at 10-over par resulted in each player earning $14,280. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured $13,940, while Ben Taylor, finishing seventy-seventh at 20-over par, received $13,770.
A Return to Form for Morikawa
Morikawa's victory at the ZOZO Championship not only adds another title to his already impressive resume but also signals a resurgence of his exceptional talent on the PGA Tour. The win serves as a reminder of Morikawa's abilities and his potential to dominate the leaderboards.
The payout structure of the tournament underscores the PGA Tour's commitment to rewarding all players for their participation, fostering an environment where every stroke counts and every player, regardless of their standing, is valued.
As the golfing world celebrates Morikawa's latest achievement, the attention now turns to the remainder of the season, where he will undoubtedly be a gol