Jon Rahm Steals Kapalua With A Final Round 63 After Collin Morikawa Implodes Down The Stretch

Andy Lyons. Getty Images.

What a kickoff to 2023 for the PGA Tour. Two big names at the top of the board, but the way they got there is a story in itself.

By all means, this was Collin Morikawa's tournament from the jump. Guy fired a 64 to tie for a share of the Thursday clubhouse lead and didn't let off the gas from there. A Friday 66 set him up with a 2-shot lead that was extended to a COZY 6-shot lead after a Saturday 65. Game over right?

Not so much.

It's not unheard of for a 6-shot lead to vanish, but when it's a big dog like Morikawa, you generally expect guys are gonna pack it in and play for the paycheck. 

Jon Rahm? Not so much. Of course everyone is gonna try to go low as they can when the leader is SIX back but this was Collin's tournament to lose. But ol Rahmbo stuck to the task at hand and buddy… did he go low on Sunday. 63 despite a first hole bogey put him at the top of the leaderboard late in his round where he probably only hoped for a crack at a playoff at best.

All of that is due to a collapse by Morikawa at the top of the leaderboard, which he'll admit without hesitation. He's been known to be one of those guys that could go on a dominant tear if he could just putt at a respectable level consistently, and he was that guy for the first 3 days of this tournament. Sunday? His putter failed him entirely. Bogeys on 14, 15, and 16 down the stretch on Sunday were highlighted by a few poor shots and 7-10 foot sliders that all really seemed to have no chance going in the hole. He made a mess from the greenside bunker on the drivable 14th…

Then biffed an uphill pitch on 15

And really didn't make a key pressure shot when he need to on the back 9.

Numerous other putts on Sunday failed him in a similar manner too. That opened a door for somebody to go low and steal then show and that man was no other than Rahm, whose Sunday 9 of 31 bested Morikawa's 39. There's your story right there.

Both guys will win plenty of tournaments for many years to come. But no question, this is one that got away from Collin and a great example that a big time horse like Rahm is always one low number away from stealing the show.