collin morikawa

5 Shocking Truths About Collin Morikawa’s 2025 Season: From Caddie Chaos To Major Contender

collin morikawa

Collin Morikawa, the two-time major champion, has always been an anomaly on the PGA Tour—a model of consistency with a throwback game built on elite iron play. However, as of the current date in December 2025, his season has been a whirlwind of high finishes and unsettling instability, creating one of the most compelling narratives in professional golf.

The 2025 season has seen the 28-year-old American golfer achieve a pair of runner-up finishes and a T10 at a flagship event, yet he continues to search for the winner's circle and the stability that defined his meteoric rise. This article dives deep into the most recent, crucial updates, his current world standing, and the technical secrets that keep him a permanent threat in every major championship.

Collin Morikawa: Complete Player Biography and Professional Profile

Collin Morikawa's career trajectory is one of the fastest and most impressive in modern golf history, establishing him as one of the sport's young elite. His blend of collegiate discipline and professional precision has made him a household name.

  • Full Name: Collin Morikawa
  • Date of Birth: February 6, 1997
  • Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Hometown: La Cañada Flintridge, California
  • Nationality: American
  • Alma Mater: University of California, Berkeley (Cal Bears)
  • Turned Professional: 2019
  • Current World Golf Ranking (OWGR): Approximately 12th (as of December 2025)
  • PGA Tour Victories: 6 (including two major championships)
  • Major Championships: 2020 PGA Championship, 2021 The Open Championship
  • Career Highlight: Started his PGA Tour career with 22 consecutive made cuts, second only to Tiger Woods' record of 25.
  • Ryder Cup Appearances: 3 (making his third straight appearance in 2025)

1. The Shocking Caddie Carousel: Five Loopers in One Season

The most significant and unsettling news surrounding Collin Morikawa in the 2025 season is the unprecedented instability on his bag. A golfer known for his calm demeanor and meticulous preparation has gone through a remarkable carousel of caddies, seeking a stable partnership before the critical FedEx Cup Playoffs and the Ryder Cup.

The year began with a major change, as Morikawa split with his long-time caddie, J.J. Jakovac, in April 2025. Jakovac was on the bag for all six of Morikawa's PGA Tour victories, including his two major championships. Following this split, Morikawa worked with several others, including Joe Greiner.

The search for stability continued, leading to him turning to his fifth caddie of the 2025 season, Mark Urbanek, a veteran looper. For the Rocket Classic, he even tapped former Cal Berkeley college teammate and current Korn Ferry Tour player, KK Limbhasut, for a temporary stint. This constant change highlights a rare area of struggle for the usually unflappable Morikawa, suggesting a deep search for the right chemistry to return to the winner's circle.

2. Elite Performance Despite Instability: Runner-Up Finishes and Major Threat

Despite the caddie turmoil, Morikawa's raw performance on the course in 2025 confirms his status as a top-tier global player. He has secured a pair of runner-up finishes, demonstrating his ability to contend on the biggest stages. A notable top performance came at the prestigious THE PLAYERS Championship, where he finished T10, a testament to his ball-striking prowess under pressure.

Furthermore, his finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he took 2nd place, solidified his position among the world's best. These results, combined with his selection for his third straight Ryder Cup appearance, prove that the foundation of his game—his iron play—remains elite. The two-time major champion is consistently knocking on the door, indicating that a victory is likely imminent once the caddie situation is resolved.

3. The 'Soft Fade' Secret: Why He's the Best Iron Player

Collin Morikawa is widely regarded as one of the best iron players in the world, a reputation built on his signature 'soft fade.' Unlike many modern professionals who rely on a draw, Morikawa's go-to shot is a controlled cut that starts slightly left of the target and gently curves back toward the pin.

His swing is a marvel of smooth tempo and technical precision. The key to his foolproof fade is a swing thought that ensures the ball starts left and 'bleeds back' to the target. This consistent, predictable ball flight allows him to attack pin positions with unmatched confidence, especially with his mid-to-long irons. His ability to control the clubface through impact is arguably the best on the PGA Tour, leading to the tight dispersion patterns that separate him from his peers. This technical mastery is the core of his topical authority in the world of golf.

4. The 2025 Equipment Update: A New Putter and Driver

Like many professional golfers, Morikawa has made strategic equipment changes for the 2025 season, primarily focusing on improving his putting, which has historically been the weaker part of his game.

  • Putter Switch: Morikawa made a notable change to the TaylorMade TP Soto putter, paired with a SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0 grip. This zero-torque putter change emphasizes feel and alignment, hoping to convert more of the birdie opportunities his superb ball-striking creates.
  • Driver: He continues his partnership with TaylorMade, using the TaylorMade Qi35 LS Driver (9 degrees) with a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX shaft.
  • Golf Ball: He uses the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball, having previously used the lower-spinning TP5x early in his professional career.

The full bag is heavily TaylorMade, a common sight among elite players. The focus on the putter is a clear indication that Morikawa and his team believe an improvement on the greens is the final piece needed to consistently convert top-10 finishes into major victories.

5. The Major Legacy: Two Wins in Eight Starts

Morikawa's early major success is a legendary feat in golf. He won the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in only his second major start, closing with a stunning final-round 64 to win by two strokes over Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson.

He followed this up by winning The Open Championship in 2021 at Royal St George's, completing the second major of his career in just his eighth major start. This incredible efficiency places him in rarefied air, demonstrating an innate ability to perform under the most intense pressure. His two major titles in his early twenties immediately put him on a Hall of Fame trajectory, a narrative that continues to drive interest and expectation for every tournament he enters. His current campaign, despite the turbulence, is merely a chapter in what promises to be one of golf's great careers.

collin morikawa
collin morikawa

Details

collin morikawa
collin morikawa

Details

Detail Author:

  • Name : Miss Eileen Herzog II
  • Username : hattie.rohan
  • Email : batz.antonetta@rutherford.com
  • Birthdate : 1970-01-12
  • Address : 386 Camron Mews Suite 016 Lanefort, IA 27014-3259
  • Phone : 207-208-3286
  • Company : Farrell, Ledner and Bradtke
  • Job : Extraction Worker
  • Bio : Ut ipsum velit ut alias beatae a perferendis. Et et omnis aliquam molestias in. Expedita perferendis minima aut odit dolorem.

Socials

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/emery_oberbrunner
  • username : emery_oberbrunner
  • bio : Ut expedita labore saepe natus. Atque commodi sit nihil. Asperiores sequi deserunt blanditiis aut.
  • followers : 999
  • following : 1593