Collin Morikawa of the United States celebrates with the winner's trophy
Collin Morikawa of the United States celebrates with the winner's trophy

Workday Charity Open: Collin Morikawa beats Justin Thomas in dramatic play-off


Collin Morikawa held his nerve to eventually beat fellow American Justin Thomas in a dramatic play-off at the Workday Charity Open.


Leaderboard

Morikawa wins play-off

-19 Thomas, Morikawa

-15 Hovland

-14 Seiffert

-12 Woodland, Poulter

-11 Cantlay, Day, Henley, Hoffman, Horschel, Ryder, Streelman


Day four report

Collin Morikawa claimed his second PGA Tour title by beating fellow American Justin Thomas in a play-off at the Workday Charity Open in Ohio.

Thomas held a two-shot lead going into Sunday's final round, but Morikawa fought back, posting a six-under 66 to force a play-off, which he won on the third extra hole.

Thomas responded well to bogeying two of the first three holes in his final round, picking up seven shots between the eighth and the 15th, but further dropped shots on 16 and 18 allowed Morikawa back in.

The 23-year-old, who had started the round three strokes behind Thomas, picked up the pressure early on with two birdies and an eagle over the first five holes and, despite bogeying 13, collected three further birdies on the back nine to force the play-off.

Morikawa said: "Being three shots back to Justin Thomas, I just knew I had to give it to him, I had to get off to a great start and we did that.

"Justin's an awesome player - he plays his butt off even with those two bogeys at the beginning. He's someone that has helped me get comfortable. He's an awesome player, an awesome dude as well."

England's Ian Poulter carded a final round of 70 to finish joint fifth along with US Open champion Gary Woodland on 12 under, seven shots off the leading pair.

Norway's Viktor Hovland finished third on 15 under after a 71 on Sunday, with American Chase Seiffert a stroke back in fourth following a 67.

American Patrick Cantlay climbed 26 places in the final round to finish in seventh place, just behind Poulter and Woodland.

Sheffield's Matthew Fitzpatrick produced his best round of the week on Sunday (68) to finish in a tie for 27th on seven under, while Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell finished two shots further back in joint 35th.

Day three report

Justin Thomas will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Workday Charity Open, where a selection of the brightest young talents in the sport are in pursuit.

Thomas carded a six-under par 66 on Saturday, extending his bogey-free run from the first hole on Thursday right through to the 18th on Saturday, and will go in search of a 13th PGA Tour title on Sunday.

Viktor Hovland is alone in second after matching Thomas's 66, with Collin Morikawa slipping from first to third having found trouble from the ninth onwards in a frustrating round of 72.

Those are the only two players within four of the leader, with Sam Burns, Ian Poulter, Kevin Streelman and Rory Sabbatini rounding out the leading contenders.

Hovland will be chasing his second title of what's his first full year on the PGA Tour, having already won in Puerto Rico. He'll begin the final round with two shots to make up on a player he's sure to face in Ryder Cups of the future.

Morikawa meanwhile is three back after letting his lead slip with back-to-back bogeys at the ninth and 10th, the putter which had helped him build a three-shot advantage halfway suddenly cooling off until he holed an excellent, curling birdie putt at the last.

Thomas made three putts of real note - a six-footer to keep his bogey-free streak alive at the fourth, an 18-foot birdie putt at the 11th, and another from 10 feet at the 14th - but it was from tee-to-green where he impressed the most.

He might have added another birdie at the 17th and had another chance at the last, but after both went begging he'll make do with a two-shot lead ahead of Sunday's final round, which will begin early due to the threat of thunderstorms.

Day two report

Collin Morikawa followed up his opening 65 with a 66 to take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Workday Charity Open.

The American, starting on the back nine, had a steady start on Friday and reached the turn on one under after mixing three birdies and two bogeys.

But a string of four birdies on the front nine helped him build up a commanding lead on 13 under, ahead of Justin Thomas and Kevin Streelman who are in a two-way tie for second.

Sam Burns matched Morikawa’s 66 to move 14 points up the leaderboard into a tie for fourth on nine under, while Ian Poulter’s 69 was good enough for a share of eighth place, six shots off the pace.

Brooks Koepka followed a round of 74 with a 69 but looks set to miss the cut alongside Jordan Spieth and Jhonattan Vegas, while Phil Mickelson may play into the weekend on two under.

Play, impacted by storms, was suspended at 8.50pm in Ohio due to darkness, with more than 30 players yet to complete their second round.


Day one report

Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa bounced back from an early exit at the Travelers Championship to take a one-shot lead with a first round 65 in Ohio.

The American missed the cut for the first time in his professional career in Connecticut but an early eagle saw him soar to the top of the leaderboard at the Workday Charity Open.

Morikawa’s second shot on the par-five fifth landed three feet from the hole, and he picked up six more shots before bogeying the 18th.

Canadian Adam Hadwin sits one shot behind and a group of four tied for third includes Nick Taylor, Hideki Matsuyama, Zach Johnson and Aaron Wise.

Ian Poulter and Graham McDowell shot in the 60s, both tied for seventh on four under, while Phil Mickelson went round in 73.

Brooks Koepka, playing for the first time after withdrawing from the Travelers when his caddie tested positive for Covid-19, had an opening round of 74.


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