AUGUSTA, Ga. — Collin Morikawa has gained two main championships and completed within the prime 5 in 5 others, so he has performed loads of golf with excessive stakes on the road.
That is why Morikawa was so stunned by his nervousness stage earlier than Thursday’s opening spherical of the ninetieth Masters.
„I imply, it began once I awakened,“ Morikawa stated. „I’ve by no means felt this nervous, like, in my life. I’ve performed in majors. I’ve performed in different occasions.“
However aside from two nine-hole observe rounds earlier this week at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, Morikawa hadn’t performed since injuring his again after just one gap of play within the first spherical of the Gamers on March 12.
„I feel it is a belief issue, proper?“ Morikawa stated. „I feel when it occurred out on the course on the Gamers, there is a sure doubt issue of, like, is that this going to occur [or] is that this not?“
The 29-year-old gutted by way of the primary 18 holes Thursday, posting a 2-over 74. He had 4 bogeys and two birdies and described it because the „hardest spherical I’ve ever performed.“
„I am simply preventing,“ Morikawa stated. „It is a battle. I do not assume I have been in a position to get comfy on the market and [trust] the whole physique. It isn’t painful, but it surely’s not simple. I feel strolling has been the toughest half.“
Morikawa stated he has been hitting balls for the previous week and a half, however not comfortably.
„It is simply extra like my head will get in the best way, and the top can cease a lot,“ Morikawa stated. „After I teed it up on Tuesday on [the first hole], I truthfully did not know if I used to be going to make contact. Warmup felt advantageous, all the pieces.“
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Though Morikawa’s again is now not in ache, his legs „simply do not feel comfy proper now. … They do not really feel sturdy like they’re beneath me.“
Morikawa joked that he is most likely the slowest-playing golfer within the subject due to his ongoing nervousness.
„I am simply attempting to place one foot in entrance of the opposite and sort of see the way it all performs out,“ Morikawa stated.
Morikawa, who gained the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship, has been looking for one other main championship since. He appeared to be in place to contend for a inexperienced jacket after profitable the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am on Feb. 15. He tied for seventh within the Genesis Invitational and was solo fifth within the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The seven-time PGA Tour winner was first in strokes gained: method (1.066) and third in tee-to-green (1.646) getting into the week.
„I am happy with the best way issues sort of performed out,“ Morikawa stated. „The expectations are sort of thrown out the window proper now.“
