Morikawa creates Tour history as First American to be European No. 1

Fatiha Betscher
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Collin Morikawa celebrates with the Race To Dubai trophy and the DP World Tour Championship trophy after Day Four of The DP World Tour Championship (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Fatiha Betscher

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Fatiha Betscher in Dubai.

Collin Morikawa has created history by not only capturing the DP World Tour Championship but becoming the first American-born in the 49-history of the European Tour to be crowned No. 1.

Morikawa produced a sizzling closing seven holes coming from near outside the top-10 through 11 holes to eventually post a closing round of 66 and in the end proudly stroll up the final fairway to win by a comfortable three shots at 17-under par in continuing heatwave conditions on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Estates.

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It is the reigning Open Champion’s first ‘regular’ European Tour success, his third victory in 2021 and his sixth overall as a professional.

Though it was not as easy for the 24-year old Morikawa as it would seem with England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick being predicted to win the coveted No. 1 crown when he raced to seven-under par through 15 holes with Morikawa still to ignite his charge to the top. Though such talk ended when Fitzpatrick bogeyed 15 and 16 on route also to a closing 66 to take second place at 14-under par.

“It feels so good. I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t watching what Matt Fitzpatrick was doing today. Boy, did he put on a run. Props to him. Made a lot of birdies early on,” said Morikawa.

“But it’s 18 holes. All I needed to do was catch a spark. I feel great right now. Winning the DP World Tour Championship, coming here last year, my first time to Dubai, really special.

“I started off with six pars, especially with some birdie holes, it wasn’t fun. I felt like I was hitting some good shots and I wasn’t getting the breaks I needed. The putts weren’t dropping and I just told myself when I looked at the leaderboard after nine that I was still in there and I was still two or three back at that point and I just needed one spark.

“After parring 10 and 11, after I told myself, you shouldn’t have done that; I knew something had to change. And 12, got a great break, thinning my second shot, made the putt, and that got the momentum started.”

COLLIN MORIKAWA – WITH HIS 2021 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP WIN

  • It is fourth European Tour victory in his 17 th appearance
  • It is his third European Tour victory on 2021 following the WGC – Workday Championship at the Concession and The Open Championship
  • His first victory in a Rolex Series event
  • His first victory in the DP World Tour Championship in his second appearance in the tournament. He finished tied 2010 in 2020.
  • Becomes the first American winner of the Race to Dubai with a final total of 5,856 points
  • Remains second on the Official World Golf Ranking behind Jon Rahm
  • Morikawa’s win is the fourth victory by an American on the 2021 Race to Dubai following his own victory at The Open, Johannes Veerman (D+D REAL Czech Masters) and Billy Horschel (BMW PGA Championship)

Full scoring HERE

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