On an unforgettable Sunday at the iconic Pebble Beach, Collin Morikawa finally ended a victory drought of over two years by winning the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 29-year-old golfer, who delivered an impressive round of 5 under par with a 67, secured the win with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole. This triumph not only marks his seventh victory on the PGA Tour, but also represents a glorious return to the top after his last win at the 2023 Zozo Championship in Japan. With the prize of $3.6 million, Morikawa has re-entered the top ten of the world golf rankings.
During an emotional interview at the 18th hole, Morikawa made an announcement that sent the golf world into a frenzy. “Putting golf aside, we are expecting a child later this year,” he revealed to Amanda Balionis of CBS Sports. “We started telling people this week. We thought there was no better way to announce it to the world than by winning. There’s so much in life, so much to enjoy. I’m hard on myself, but I’m just grateful for the people around me, my team, Kat, my wife, my parents, my brother. I’m speechless right now.”
Morikawa’s words resonated in the golf community: “There is so much in life, there is so much to enjoy.” The way he chose to share this deeply personal news, right after a monumental victory, is something that will go down in history.
In terms of competition, Morikawa started the day behind the 54-hole leader, Akshay Bhatia, who had a two-stroke advantage, but saw his performance crumble, finishing with a 72 and three strokes behind. Challenging weather conditions were also a factor, with winds of up to 40 mph forcing organizers to change tee times and adjust the speed of the greens.
The final round was a true spectacle, with constant changes in the lead and six players sharing at least a portion of the command. Morikawa had impressed on Saturday with a breathtaking performance, recording a personal best of 10 under par with a 62, where he hit all 18 greens in regulation.
The impressive performance of Scottie Scheffler did not go unnoticed. Starting the day with an eight-shot deficit, Scheffler shot a 63 that included three eagles, becoming the first in PGA Tour history to achieve three eagles in a single round at Pebble Beach. His final eagle, a 6-iron from 186 yards that left the ball just 30 centimeters from the hole, temporarily tied him for the lead. He finished tied for fourth place with Tommy Fleetwood, extending his impressive streak of 18 top-10 finishes.
The drama of the final round intensified when Morikawa made a 30-foot birdie on the 15th hole and another on the 16th, reaching a score of 22 under par. A bogey on the 17th hole, where his ball nearly fell into the ocean, left him tied with Min Woo Lee, who closed with a 65 after birdies on the last two holes. Sepp Straka also put pressure on Morikawa, making a 10-foot eagle on the 18th hole.
After a 20-minute delay on the 18th tee due to Jacob Bridgeman’s struggles in the group ahead, Morikawa overcame the pressure, hitting a 4-iron over the water to the edge of the green and then making two putts to one foot, securing the birdie and the victory by one stroke over Straka and Lee.
The combination of an exciting victory and a touching personal announcement made this Sunday a day that Morikawa and his fans will never forget. The future shines brightly for the champion, who not only conquered the course but also embraced a new chapter in his personal life.
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