Collin Morikawa may be the second youngest player on the US team ahead of the Presidents Cup, but Jim Furyk will be looking to the two-time major champion to be a real leader within the ranks.
Collin Morikawa has enjoyed a real return to form in recent months, culminating with the 27-year-old finishing second at The Tour Championship. Had everyone started at level par at East Lake and all of the scores been the same, he would have been the one lifting the FedEx Cup title.
Much of the attention this year has been on Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, but Morikawa is the third best player in the field this week at Royal Montreal, so he will be desperate to impress on his second Presidents Cup appearance.
Morikawa was just 10 years of age when Mike Weir and Tiger Woods faced off in the singles at the 2007 Presidents Cup at the same course. So it is not entirely surprising that he was seemingly not too sure what he would find when he arrived in Canada.
Collin Morikawa issues his verdict on Royal Montreal ahead of the Presidents Cup
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the week, the world number four shared what he has made of the course so far – and what has really impressed him.
“I didn’t really know what to expect. A lot of small greens and undulations. I think when it comes to that you got to put yourself in the fairway. Rough is not crazy long. You can hit some and run it up,” he said.
“With just undulation you can hit some small targets and hit your irons really out here. Greens are running amazing. So just being able to make putts like that.”
The dilemma Jim Furyk faces with Morikawa
Certainly, it would be a real shock if Morikawa was not a key player for the Americans in the foursomes as he is widely considered to be one of the very best iron players in the game. Crucially, the four par threes are all on odd number holes, so that will obviously come into Jim Furyk‘s thinking.
He did not actually play a fourball match at Quail Hollow two years ago, but it would be a surprise if that was the case this time around. What will be interesting to see is who Furyk pairs him with.
Morikawa has had a range of partners over the last few years, including Dustin Johnson, Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele and Sam Burns. So he is someone who can work with many, and he is definitely someone who has the quality to win five points if given the chance.
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