A Triumphant Return for Morikawa at the 2023 ZOZO Championship
The golfing world witnessed a remarkable return to form as Collin Morikawa clinched his first PGA Tour win in two years at the 2023 ZOZO Championship. With a purse totaling $8.5 million, Morikawa's exceptional performance not only captivated audiences but also secured him a significant winner's share of $1,530,000.
The tournament, which spanned from October 19 to October 22, featured a star-studded lineup that included notable names such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. However, it was Morikawa who dominated the field, finishing at an impressive 14-under par and establishing a comfortable six-shot margin over his closest competitors.
This victory holds special significance for Morikawa as it marks his first tour win since the 2021 Open Championship. The triumph at the ZOZO Championship is a testament to his resilience and dedication to the sport, solidifying his status as one of the top players on the PGA Tour.
Prize Money Breakdown
While Morikawa took home the lion's share, the tournament's unique structure ensured that all participants were awarded prize money, as there was no cut. This format allowed each golfer to earn a portion of the purse, regardless of their final standing.
Eric Cole and Beau Hossler emerged as the runners-up, tying for second place with commendable 8-under performances, each taking home $748,000. Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place with scores of 7-under, earning themselves $374,000 apiece.
A four-way tie for sixth place saw Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun finish at 6-under, with each player receiving $275,187.50. The tenth-place tie between Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, both ending the tournament at 5-under, resulted in earnings of $221,000 for each golfer.
The twelfth-place tie included Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira, all of whom completed the event at 4-under and were rewarded with $178,500 each. Matt NeSmith's solo fifteenth-place finish at 3-under par brought him $151,640.
Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery ended the championship tied at sixteenth place with scores of 2-under, each pocketing $133,960. Tying for nineteenth place, Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala finished at 1-under, earning $112,710 each.
Players who tied for twenty-first place with even-par scores received $73,610 each. Those tied for thirty-first place, finishing at 1-over par, had varying earnings around $46,167, while players tied for thirty-eighth place at 2-over par each earned $36,210.
The forty-first place tie, with scores of 3-over, saw players take home $27,710 each. A score of 4-over led to a tie for forty-eighth place, with those golfers earning $20,230 each. Players tied for fifty-first place at 5-over par received $17,743.75 each.
As the scores increased, so did the number of ties, with players tied for fifty-ninth place at 6-over par earning $16,490 each. A group tied for sixty-fourth place at 7-over par took home $15,725 each, and those tied for sixty-eighth place at 8-over par earned $15,045 each.
Hayden Buckley, placing seventy-second with a score of 9-over par, was awarded $14,620. The seventy-third place tie, with scores of 10-over par, resulted in earnings of $14,280 for each player involved. Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, earned $13,940, and Ben Taylor rounded out the field in seventy-seventh place with a score of 20-over par, securing $13,770.
The ZOZO Championship's payout structure reflects a growing trend in professional golf to ensure that all players are compensated for their participation, a move that supports the competitiveness and inclusivity of the sport.
Conclusion
Morikawa's victory at the ZOZO Championship is a significant milestone in his career, signaling a return to the top echelons of the game. As the PGA Tour continues to evolve, the success of players like Mor