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Morikawa has second shot at No.1 world golf ranking

He’ll likely need to shake off some rust at this week’s Tournament of Champions

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Collin Morikawa faltered in his final round of competition in 2021 with the No. 1 world golf ranking on the line.

He arrived in Hawaii this week focused on making the most of his second opportunity to wrestle the top spot away from Jon Rahm.

Morikawa, 24, could have ascended to No. 1 for the first time in his career with a victory at last month’s Hero World Challenge. He held a commanding five-shot lead after 54 holes, but withered with a 76 on Sunday to finish in a tie for fifth.

Morikawa has played only sparingly since, fitting in a few casual rounds with friends over the holidays. He’ll likely need to shake off some rust at this week’s Tournament of Champions, especially as he breaks in a new carbon fiber driver, but so will everyone in the 38-player field limited to PGA Tour winners from 2021.

“For me, it really hits me on a certain day, you wake up and you’re just like, ‘I miss it,’” he said of his break over the holidays. “You miss golf. I’s a great feeling, because you wake up and you’re just like, ‘I’m ready to go.’

“It’s like an ‘a-ha’ moment, light bulb turns on and you just are like you want the new year to start.”

Morikawa can start the new year off with a real bang.

As long as Rahm doesn’t win or finish second, Morikawa can take over No. 1 with a solo second. Third place could also be good enough depending upon where Rahm finishes.

“It’s been a dream my entire life to get to No. 1 in the world, but it’s not just about getting to No. 1 it’s about sustaining that,” he said.

Morikawa is attempting to join elite company. Only Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have achieved No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking before turning 25 years old.

“It’s all in my control, all I can do is try and win the tournament and that’s all I’m going to focus on,” he said. “But it’s a huge goal, it always has been and it means something that when you do get there it means you’re doing something right or at least a good amount of things right.”

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