Wells Fargo: Collin Morikawa assaults “massive boy” course, sits close to high

Collin Morikawa continues to indicate spurts of greatness on the golf course in 2024.

On the Wells Fargo Championship, the two-time main winner shot a 4-under 67 on Thursday to take a seat three pictures off chief, Xander Schauffele.

Morikawa credited Quail Hole for residing as much as the hype it offers off.

“It’s an enormous boy’s golf course,” Morikawa stated. “It is rather, very powerful off the tee, even the fairways on the broader finish of what we’d see, however with the brand new greens, with the agency greens, you’ve obtained to hit your spots, and also you’ve obtained to attain along with your mid to lengthy irons, particularly for a man like me.”

He needed to grind a lot of the day. Morikawa made simply two birdies on the entrance 9 and 7 pars. Whereas his strategy sport was the most effective a part of his efficiency, he nonetheless averaged 1.77 putts on greens in regulation.

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Photos

On the flip, he made a birdie on his tenth gap, the first, and gained a little bit momentum. He added two extra birdies on the fifth and seventh earlier than he bogeyed the ninth to complete his spherical.

“I don’t suppose I missed many iron pictures left immediately, which was nice. I hit all of them the place I wished,” Morikawa stated. “I can take a look at loads of my iron pictures, to be trustworthy, and say OK, these had been high quality iron pictures. If I did miss, they had been all in the best spot, our distance was appropriate — I haven’t seen that for some time.”

It has been an up-and-down season for him. There have been nice moments and instances when issues went incorrect. On the Masters, he had a shot at profitable his third main championship, however Morikawa’s greed price him on Sunday.

He sits in a great spot after one spherical at a course that can problem this stout subject. Morikawa should proceed to hit his lengthy irons effectively if he needs to win at Quail Hole this week.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. For extra golf protection, remember to observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may as well observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.