Key Highlights
- Collin Morikawa ‘stole’ a putter from Kurt Kitayama before the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
- Morikawa finished tied for first with Sam Burns at the tournament.
- Morikawa attributes his success to finding comfort in an unconventional putter.
Collin Morikawa’s Unconventional Putt for Success
Collin Morikawa’s story at this year’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a tale of ingenuity and, perhaps, desperation. Just two weeks ago, the PGA Tour star found himself in a slump after missing the cut at the Sony Open. Now, he sits tied for the lead with Sam Burns, thanks to a putter that isn’t exactly his own.
A ‘Stolen’ Putter
It all started two weeks ago when Morikawa was hanging out at home with Kurt Kitayama. In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness—or perhaps desperation—Morikawa decided to take what he deemed necessary for his game: a putter from his PGA Tour friend. “I think I might be for the rest of my career,” Morikawa quipped, revealing that this makeshift acquisition has become a permanent part of his setup.
“It’s a very– it’s a comfort thing for me,” Morikawa elaborated. “This putter I actually stole from Kurt Kitayama two weeks ago, we were at home.”
Skyrocketing Success
The results speak for themselves. Morikawa has found success on the green where he previously struggled. “I hit all 18 greens on Saturday,” he said with a hint of satisfaction. His newfound comfort with the putter is clearly paying off, as his game has improved significantly.
Reflections and Mindset
Morikawa’s journey isn’t just about finding a new putter; it’s also about finding a renewed mindset. Reflecting on his recent performance, he shared, “I’ve had a lot of conversations with Rick. More frustration, right, of just I go out, and even on Thursday I think I had like three or four birdies on a course where I felt like I hit it really, really good.”
Morikawa’s coach reminded him that he didn’t start playing golf to make cuts or top-20s; his goal was always to win. This mindset shift has allowed Morikawa to focus solely on winning the tournament.
A Small Mindset Adjustment
The key, according to Morikawa, is a small but crucial mindset adjustment: “Now we’ve given ourselves a chance. It’s a small mindset adjustment and without him telling me that, who knows what I would have shot today.”
As the tournament progresses, one can only wonder how long this putter will remain in Morikawa’s arsenal. For now, it has certainly brought him success at Pebble Beach.
You might think this is new, but sometimes old tricks—or in this case, stolen putters—work wonders.
