Collin Morikawa lacked his A-game at the Zozo Championship last week, but his T-7 finish was good enough to boost him one spot in the Official World Golf Ranking to a career-best No. 2, vaulting over Dustin Johnson and now is only looking up at Jon Rahm.
The two-time major champion and reigning “Champion Golfer of the Year” as the British Open winner seems destined to get to the top of the mountain before too long. But major champions aren’t immune to the rare bad shot. They can look like you and me from time to time – and even laugh about it. On Saturday, in Japan, Morikawa had a relatable moment.
“I did something in my career that I haven’t done yet,” he said after his third round. “I don’t think many people know this. I was in the middle of the fairway on 6, the par 5, and shanked a pitching wedge straight in the trees.”
Oh, no, he didn’t! The sweetest swinger of the irons in the game hit a hosel rocket? We need video proof.
“Really good way to start the day after being 1 under through five,” he said facetiously. “I really had no clue where the ball was going to go, I was kind of just trying to make contact.”
No clue where the ball is going? Just trying to make contact? So relatable, Collin, I feel you. Here’s the difference between Morikawa’s muffed shot and the one’s by Joe Hacker at the local muni: Morikawa still managed to shoot 67.
Morikawa wasn’t the only major winner from this year to experience a brain fart last weekend. At the PGA Tour Champions’ Dominion Energy Charity Classic, Phil Mickelson, the reigning PGA Championship winner, had a case of the quads. His quadriceps were activating and surely he didn’t miss “leg day,” but the 547-yard par-5 ninth hole kept kicking his butt. Mickelson did birdie the hole in his opening round Friday, but on Saturday he pumped not one, but two drives out of bounds and made a quadruple-bogey 9. As Yogi Berra would say, it was déjà vu all over on Sunday – another nine on nine. Mickelson, who has been cleaning up on the senior circuit with three wins in his first four starts, got whipped by ageless wonder Bernhard Langer and finished T-47.
It created a moment of schadenfreude that some social media critics couldn’t help but ignore.
I probably was a bit off on that statement
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) October 24, 2021
Nine on nine is also very relatable. Good to see Mickelson able to poke some fun at himself. Imagine that’s a lot easier to do when the Wanamaker Trophy is resting on your mantel.
21 golfers we'd like to see on Golf Channel's 'player takeover'
Golf Channel spiced things up during the broadcast of the Zozo Championship this past week.
You had to stay up late to see it, but if you did you were rewarded with extended visits to the broadcast booth from Rickie Fowler (Thursday), Charley Hoffman (Friday), Pat Perez (Saturday) and Ryan Palmer (Sunday).
Like this classic Saturday Night Live skit with Christopher Walken – “Needs more cowbell!” – PGA Tour broadcasts can use some more spice. Let’s hope this will become a regular thing in the 2021-22 season and not just a late-night experiment that gets shutdown by some suit.
Here are 21 players that we’d like to see as part of what Golf Channel dubbed its “player takeover” segment. Editor’s note: Players are listed alphabetically.
Paul Casey
Team Europe player Paul Casey lines up a putt on the 16th green with his caddie John McLaren during day one four-ball rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Photo by Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
He used to be a Jekyll-and-Hyde guy for me, but last five years he’s become one of the best at dissecting his own game and those at the upper echelon of the game.
Joel Dahmen
Joel Dahmen stands on the first hole during round two of the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin on October 08, 2021 in Las Vegas. Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
He is on the verge of being overexposed, but he’s a media darling for all the right reasons.
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau jokes with the gallery on the third tee during the final round at the 2021 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Photo by Brynn Anderson/Associated Press
Who knows whether he’ll drop some science on us or talk about his weight-gaining diet or about his belief in UFOs, but this we do know: it will be entertaining.
Chesson Hadley
Chesson Hadley plays his shot from the eighth tee during the first round the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. Photo by Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Underrated at analyzing his own game as well as his peers. Could transition smoothly into talking for a living a la Colt Knost when he’s ready.
James Hahn
James Hahn plays his shot from the 8th fairway during the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson. Photo by Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Hahn is a natural. Some network should sign him the minute he loses his status or whenever he decides he’s had enough of grinding out pars and birdies.
Padraig Harrington
Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington is seen during a four-ball match the Ryder Cup at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Sheboygan, Wis. Photo by Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
Paddy always has something interesting to say; the problem might be can he finish talking before it is time to go to commercial.
Harry Higgs
Harry Higgs shakes hands with his caddie after putting out on the 18th green the third round of the 2019 Bermuda Championship at Port Royal. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Maybe the funniest guy on Tour. His star is rising. If the rumors are true, his popularity will go next level in the Netflix PGA Tour documentary.
Max Homa
Max Homa and his wife Lacey celebrate with the champion’s trophy after winning the Fortinet Championship on Sept. 19, 2021 in Napa, California. Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Everyone loves Max on social media and he’s become a go-to quote for us writers, too. Max for President and definitely for a player takeover in the booth.
Billy Horschel
Billy Horschel plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the 2021 BMW Championship. Photo Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
You wouldn’t have to ask him twice to do this. Billy Ho can talk a good game.
Charles Howell III
Charles Howell III hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during the final round of the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin on October 10, 2021 in Las Vegas. Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
Perennial first-team member of my All-Interview team.
Kevin Kisner
Kevin Kisner fist pumps after making birdie to win the second playoff hole during the final round of the 2021 Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. Photo by Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Kiz would be great. As Chesson Hadley once said, “He’s one of those guys who tells you you’re a jerk, but he says it in such a way that you love it and laugh about it.” Golf broadcasts could use a little more Kiz.
Peter Malnati
Peter Malnati during the first round of the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship. Photo by Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
He may not be a prolific winner, but one of the sharpest knives in the drawer.
Graeme McDowell
Graeme McDowell sits on the sign at the 6th tee during the second round of the 2021 Valspar Championship. Photo by Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
He’s a quote machine on any number of topics. Affable, witty, a guy you want to have a beer with and should be snapped up for a network gig whenever he’s ready.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates winning The CJ Cup at The Summit at The Summit Club on October 17, 2021 in Las Vegas. Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images for CJ Cup @ Summit
Every answer is given thought. Just one of the best interviews in golf if not sport. He would be a reason alone to tune in.
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson signs autographs for two young fans after his round of 67 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead in the Constellation Furyk & Friends, at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville. Photo by Garry Smits/Florida Times-Union
He’s the Tony Romo of golf. Winning the PGA probably set his transition to the booth back five years, but we’ll settle for a post-round, in-booth interview or three in the meantime. One of the networks should hire him to do a regular series of Phil’s Phireside Chats.
Brandt Snedeker
Brandt Snedeker waits to hit his tee shot on the first hole during the second round of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa on September 17, 2021 in Napa, California. Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Talks almost as fast as he plays golf and in bursts as short as his putting stroke, but most everything he says is gold.
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth tees off on the third during the third round of the 2021 CJ Cup at The Summit. Photo by Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
No one provides better live commentary of his round than Jordan and he loves to talk golf because he’s a giant golf nerd at heart.
Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 4, 2021 in Orlando. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
His dry humor is elite stuff. If he’s going to be in the interview room, I’m not missing it.
Justin Thomas
Team USA players celebrate with champagne during the trophy presentation after winning the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, in Haven, Wisconsin, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. Photo by Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Scott Van Pelt calls him the best interviewer in golf. I wouldn’t go that far but he excelled in the commentator role at The Match.
Harold Varner III
Harold Varner III during the AREA 313 Celebrity Scramble at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Tuesday, June 29, 2021, ahead of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Photo by Detroit Free Press
The most likable guy in the room is a riot. With his bubbly personality, HV3 always brightens my mood.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods on the ninth green during a practice round for the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Photo by Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
He’s Tiger Woods, for goodness sake. We want to hear what he has to say and now that he’s opened up and sharing more, the stuff he says is actually interesting.