Collin Morikawa is an American two-time major champion from Los Angeles, California, ranked world number 4, with victories at the PGA Championship (2020) and The Open Championship (2021). At 29, he possesses the best iron game on the PGA Tour, a claim that is not opinion but verifiable through strokes gained data, and he has already proven he can win on parkland and links alike.
Morikawa’s defining skill is his approach play, and it is genuinely special. His dispersion on mid-irons is tighter than almost anyone who has ever played the game at this level. He hits a natural fade that holds its line in wind, a shot shape that is particularly effective on exposed courses like Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale. From 150 to 200 yards, he does not just find the green; he finds the correct section of the green, a distinction that separates major champions from major contenders on the toughest setups.
The 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park was his breakthrough, punctuated by one of the most audacious shots in recent major history: a driven approach on the par-4 16th in the final round that bounced once and rolled into the hole for eagle, effectively sealing the title. A year later, he won The Open Championship at Royal St George’s on his debut in the event, an achievement that underlined his adaptability. Most American players struggle with links golf on their first exposure. Morikawa won it. His driving has improved significantly since those early victories, adding distance without sacrificing accuracy, and his scrambling numbers have tightened.
In 2026, Aronimink’s Ross greens, which punish imprecise approach play more severely than almost any venue in championship golf, could be the perfect stage for Morikawa’s iron precision. The U.S. Open at Shinnecock rewards thinkers over bombers, and Morikawa is the best thinker with irons in his hands. He will compete at all four: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Follow the action in United States time.