Collin Morikawa made history on Sunday by becoming the first debutant to win both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship.
The American captured his maiden major at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California, last year and added a second on Sunday at Royal St. George’s in Kent, southeast England.
Morikawa shot 66 in his final round to finish at 15-under par for the tournament, two shots ahead of Jordan Spieth and four ahead of world No. 1 Jon Rahm, both of whom also finished with 4-under par final rounds.
It was again a case of so close and yet so far for Louis Oosthuizen, who led for 54 holes but shot 71 on Sunday and finished tied for third with Rahm at 11-under.
The South African has now finished runner-up or third eight times in a major since winning The Open in 2010.
Morikawa’s triumph came with a hefty payout, as the American pocketed $2.07 million in prize money—the largest sum reserved for the winner in the history of the tournament.
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The Open had never handed out a prize of $2 million or more and the previous record-high was the $1.93 million Ireland’s Shane Lowry secured in 2019—the tournament was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Morikawa’s payout matches the figure Hideki Matsuyama received after winning The Masters in April.
In May, Phil Mickelson made $2.16 million in prize money after winning the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and last month Rahm won $2.25 million for triumphing at the U.S. Open.
At $11.5 million, the Open’s total purse was the biggest in tournament history and matched the one offered by The Masters, but was slightly lower than the $12 million distributed by the PGA Championship and the $12.5 million available at the U.S. Open.
On Sunday, Spieth pocketed $1.19 million for finishing second, while Rahm and Oosthuizen each received $682,500.
South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli made $480,000 for coming fifth, while Brooks Koepka and Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes each received $386,500 for finishing tied for sixth.
Morikawa Recorded a Course Record
Morikawa’s total of 15-under was a 72-hole record at Royal St. George’s, where the winning score has been 5-under or lower in 13 of the 15 Open Championships it has hosted.
He now has two major wins in eight starts and is halfway through to a career grand slam at only 24 years of age. Only Bobby Jones in 1926 needed fewer starts to win his first two majors.
Along with Morikawa, Spieth and Jones, only Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have won two majors before turning 25.
Morikawa also became the youngest player since Ballesteros in 1979 to win The Open while trailing entering the final round.
Ominously for his rivals, being in such esteemed company may only serve to motivate Morikawa even more.
“It’s so hard to look back at the two short years that I have been a pro and see what I’ve done because I want more,” the University of California graduate said.
“I enjoy these moments and I love it. I want to teach myself to embrace it a little more, maybe spend a few extra days and sit back and drink out of this [Claret Jug]. But I just want more.
“When you’re in these moments and you truly love what you do […] I love playing golf and competing against these guys, these are the best moments ever because the nerves push you to just be a better person. You have to be excited about these opportunities and that’s how I looked at it today, especially coming down the stretch.”
