Collin Morikawa made late Masters push with 5 straight birdies

When play began at Augusta National Golf Club for the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament, it seemed like the best that Collin Morikawa could hope for was making the cut and hovering around par. He had not competed in a PGA Tour event since a back injury forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship on March 12.

The two-time major champion did not exude much confidence when speaking on his overall health status. He then carded a two-over on Thursday, which he called “probably the toughest round I’ve ever played.” But trying to make sense of this sport can be a foolhardy task, and so is underestimating Morikawa.

The 29-year-old, who began the final round six shots behind co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, made a significant push on the back-nine to pull within three strokes of first place. He birdied five consecutive holes, starting from the 12th.

He breezed through Amen’s Corner and finished the stretch at 9-under par, refusing to be hampered by rust or the natural perils that line the links in Augusta. Unfortunately, Morikawa’s Sunday surge was not enough to earn him his first career Green Jacket. The former world No. 2 was unable to make additional headway, narrowly missing another birdie on the 18th. He finishes one stroke off co-clubhouse leaders Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley and is currently four behind overall leader McIlroy.

Nonetheless, Collin Morikawa will likely take enormous satisfaction in his strong showing at the Masters. Despite the questions surrounding his back, the California native posts his fourth top-10 finish in the last five years. He will try to carry this momentum with him into the next PGA competition he plays.

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