Collin Morikowa Wins Workday Charity Open

Collin Morikowa outlasted Justin Thomas to win the Workday Charity Open on the third hole of a sudden death playoff at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Thomas led by three shots with three holes to play after an eagle on No. 15, but two bogeys and a par later, he found himself going to a playoff with Morikowa.

The first playoff hole provided some drama with Thomas draining a 50-foot putt only to be matched by Morikowa knocking in a 24-foot putt to extend the playoff.

It was the third playoff hole, when Thomas was forced to lay up from behind a tree after an errant tee shot, leaving Morikowa two putts form within 10 feet to win the tournament.

Morikawa becomes the second player in the last 30 years to win his second PGA TOUR event before missing his second cut following Tiger Woods.

This was the second playoff in the five PGA TOUR events since returning to action and Morikowa has been involved in both them. Morikowa dropped the playoff to Daniel Berger at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.

“It was crazy,” Morikowa said. “I got off to a really good start, and thinking back, 75 holes is a lot more than 72 for sure, especially the last three in sudden death. I just knew I had to go low. Justin wasn’t going to give it to me. He was fighting throughout the entire day, even with those two bogeys at the beginning, and I just wanted a chance coming down the stretch, gave it, and I’m excited right now. I’m so happy.”

Thomas began the day with a two shot lead and found himself down by three shots following consecutive bogeys on Nos. 2 and 3, but battled back to be in complete control with three holes to play only to end up in second place.

“I’m pretty pissed off. That’s about the only way to explain it,” Thomas said. “I had a three-shot lead with three to go and just completely handed it over. Collin played great. He birdied a very tough hole on 17. Both made great birdies on the first playoff hole. But I had two chances, many chances to win this thing, but two chances in regulation and the second playoff hole and didn’t get it done.”

Viktor Hovland ended up in solo third after a one-under 71 playing alongside Morikowa and Thomas in the final group.

“Just anytime you can be in contention and have a chance to win, I think that’s always a learning experience,” Hovland said. “Obviously Justin and Collin, they played awesome.”

The PGA TOUR will stay in Dublin for next week’s Memorial Tournament, the first time in 63 years that the TOUR has played consecutive weeks at the same golf course.

Last year’s Memorial champion Patrick Cantlay shot a final round 65 to move up 26 spots into a tie for seventh.

“I played really well, so I’m happy about getting a good feel on the golf course,” Cantlay said. “The greens were a little quicker, felt a little like a first round of the Memorial out there today, so it was a nice rehearsal for next week.”