Collin Morikawa continued his assault on the All-Star field, firing an 8-under-par 65 to open a nearly insurmountable six-shot lead at the Tournament of Champions on Saturday in Kapalua, Hawaii.
Morikawa sits at 24 under through 54 holes. The six-shot lead matches the largest 54-hole margin of the season and the largest at the event since 1999.
“It’s been pretty simple today,” Morikawa said.
Morikawa carded an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole and never looked back, adding six more birdies — including four of his last five holes. He turned in another bogey-free round, the only player in the field to do so.
“Sometimes I think you do, and you do,” Morikawa said. “You know enough. But it really factors in now if I can go back to any shot today and just really go through like, was the mental process right, was the routine good, what was off a little bit here or there and go from there.”
Three players sit tied for second at 18 under — J.J. Spaun (third-round 69), Scottie Scheffler (69) and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (66).
Tom Kim (68) and Jon Rahm (67) are seven shots back in a tie for fifth.
Max Homa fired a 10-under 63 for the low round of the day, vaulting 20 spots up the leaderboard and into a tie for seventh at 16 under.
“I don’t know how to really explain it,” Homa said. “It didn’t feel like I played four shots better than my last two days combined, but I did. So it’s just not a very good game for your mind. But it was nice to shoot 10 under.”
Morikawa seeks his first victory since the 2021 Open Championship and sixth career Tour title.
“I think tomorrow’s going to kind of be the same with maybe a little less wind,” Morikawa said. “So we know there’s going to be a lot of birdies and you just got to keep giving yourself chances.”
–Field Level Media
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