Collin Morikawa on the verge of PGA Tour history as Brandel Chamblee hails him for doing something like peak Tiger Woods

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Collin Morikawa has a fantastic opportunity to secure his first win since 2023 this week, with the 27-year-old one shot off the lead heading into the final round of The Sentry in Kapalua.

There appears to be the potential for the final round of The Sentry to turn into something of a shootout before Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama, with the pair four and five shots clear of third respectively at The Sentry.

Morikawa may be the favourite in the eyes of many, having never finished worse than seventh in Maui. He also appears to have rediscovered the magic which made the two-time major champion’s iron game the envy of many when he burst onto the scene.

In fact, the youngster has been nearly flawless with his approach game this week.

Brandel Chamblee lauds ‘extraordinary’ Collin Morikawa at The Sentry

As shown by Golf Channel, Morikawa has hit nine shots to within six feet this week. Meanwhile, he has hit 15 shots to inside 10 feet at the Plantation Course. And it seems that it has left Morikawa in contention to make PGA Tour history during the final round.

Speaking on Golf Channel, Brandel Chamblee insisted that Morikawa is playing at a level Tiger Woods would be very happy with when he was at the peak of his powers.

“I knew I was going to see some stellar iron shots today, I knew I was going to see some stellar iron shots this week just in general, but he’s taken it to another level. If we just take a look at how many times he’s hit it inside six feet in 54 holes mind you. Nine times this week, he’s managed to hit a shot inside six feet. 15 times, he’s managed to hit a shot inside 10 feet,” he said.

“I was joking this morning where it’s like Johnny Miller times three, but this is the kind of stuff that Johnny was doing in the desert when he was running off and winning by 15 shots. It’s the kind of stuff that Tiger Woods was doing when he was winning by 15 shots. You don’t see this kind of precision.

“This is an extraordinary amount of precision that we’re seeing from this man. As a matter of fact, he’s got a chance to do something that’s never been done in the history of the PGA Tour in record counting days: the most greens ever hit in a PGA Tour event is 69 out of 72. Now, Peter Jacobsen did it in ’95 at Pebble Beach. Jerry Kelly did it in ’96, Disney. He’s missed, and I’m just talking about Collin Morikawa, he’s hit 52 of 54 greens.”

Why the PGA Tour should be particularly worried about Morikawa

The worry for the rest of the PGA Tour is the world knows just how good Morikawa can be with his irons. So there is little reason to think this is a fluke by any means.

Of course, it is going to be unbelievably difficult for Morikawa to replicate this performance in future weeks. The lack of wind in Kapalua has seemingly made the scoring much easier this week. But his potential is clear to see.

This is the player who won two major titles in his first eight starts in the sport’s four biggest events. And that was a time when Morikawa’s iron play was the most flawless part of his game.

If he is getting back to that level – or perhaps even surpassing it – then Morikawa could definitely be the one to watch in 2025.