Morikawa's Triumphant Return
After a two-year hiatus from the winner's circle, Collin Morikawa made an emphatic statement by securing the 2023 ZOZO Championship. His masterful play throughout the tournament culminated in a remarkable 14-under par finish, leaving a sizeable six-shot gap between him and his closest competitors. This victory not only showcases Morikawa's resilience but also reaffirms his status as one of the top talents in the golfing world.
A Lucrative Purse
The ZOZO Championship, with its generous $8.5 million purse, attracted some of the game's finest players to its greens. The event, which spanned from October 19 to October 22, saw notable figures such as Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler vying for the title. However, it was Morikawa who emerged victorious, earning a substantial winner's share of $1,530,000.
The payout structure of the tournament was designed to reward all participants, a reflection of the inclusive spirit of the sport. With no cut implemented, each golfer who teed off at the championship received compensation for their efforts.
Runners-Up and Top Finishers
Eric Cole and Beau Hossler delivered commendable performances, tying for second place with impressive scores of 8-under each. Their efforts were rewarded with a handsome prize of $748,000 apiece. Not far behind them, Ryo Ishikawa and Robby Shelton shared fourth place, finishing at 7-under and pocketing $374,000 each for their stellar play.
The competition remained fierce further down the leaderboard. A quartet of players—Kensei Hirata, Ryo Hisatsune, Min Woo Lee, and J.J. Spaun—tied for sixth place at 6-under, each taking home $275,187.50. Emiliano Grillo and Justin Suh, who tied for tenth place at 5-under, earned themselves $221,000 each.
Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, and Satoshi Kodaira ended the tournament tied for twelfth place with scores of 4-under, each claiming $178,500. Matt NeSmith finished alone in fifteenth place at 3-under par, securing a payout of $151,640.
Further Standings and Earnings
The competitive spirit continued through the ranks with Yuki Inamori, Kurt Kitayama, and Taylor Montgomery ending the event in a tie for sixteenth place at 2-under, each earning $133,960. Close on their heels, Keegan Bradley and Sahith Theegala tied for nineteenth place at 1-under, receiving $112,710 each.
Golfers who achieved even-par were tied for twenty-first place, with earnings of $73,610 each. Those who scored 1-over par found themselves tied for thirty-first, taking home around $46,167. Meanwhile, a score of 2-over par led to a tie for thirty-eighth place, with each player in that bracket earning $36,210.
As the scores increased, so did the ties, with those at 3-over sharing forty-first place and a prize of $27,710 each. Golfers at 4-over were grouped in a tie for forty-eighth place, each earning $20,230. The fifty-first place tie at 5-over par resulted in payouts of $17,743.75 per player.
The sixty-fourth place tie at 7-over par saw those golfers taking home $15,725 each. Players who finished 8-over par were tied for sixty-eighth place, earning $15,045 each. Hayden Buckley, who placed seventy-second at 9-over par, was awarded $14,620, while those tied for seventy-third at 10-over par earned $14,280 each.
Tyson Alexander, who placed seventy-sixth at 11-over par, secured a payout of $13,940. Finally, Ben Taylor, who finished seventy-seventh at 20-over par, received $13,770 for his participation in the tournament.
Reflections on the Tournament
Collin Morikawa's triumph at the ZOZO Championship marks a significant milestone in his career, signaling a return to form after his last tour win at the 2021 Open Championship. The payout structure, ensuring every player leaves with a prize, emphasizes the event's commitment to fostering competitiveness and inclusivity within the sport. As the dust settles on this year's championship, Morikawa's victory will be remembered as a testament