PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Collin Morikawa’s last victory was 28 months ago, and on Sunday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he was reminded why winning is never straightforward.
During a tumultuous and windy final round, he was one of six players sharing the lead at various times. Scottie Scheffler’s name stood out, almost completing a monumental comeback in the tournament’s history.
The wait was especially tough on the par-5 18th hole, where cold Pacific winds swept in from the ocean. Morikawa stood in the fairway for roughly 20 minutes as Jacob Bridgeman struggled to play off the beach, ultimately sending his shot into the ocean.
Morikawa mentioned he paced back and forth to the ocean about ten times.
“I focused on everything but golf,” he said. “Fortunately, the view was stunning, making it easier. For me, it was about staying loose and warm without fixating on the shot.”
When it counted, Morikawa came through with consecutive birdies to seize the lead and ended with a final birdie from 235 yards with a 4-iron that soared over the ocean before the wind guided it onto the green.
With two putts from the collar, he recorded a 5-under 67, securing a one-shot win over Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee.
“What a fantastic field and leaderboard to watch all day,” Morikawa remarked. “Being able to execute those final two shots feels amazing.”
The two-time major champion concluded at 22-under 266, matching the event’s record for the lowest winning total over 72 holes (Brandt Snedeker, 2015). It had been 45 tournaments since his last win at the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023.
With a fresh perspective on life and golf, Morikawa expressed his hope for even greater achievements by focusing on enjoying the game rather than technique. He also shared the joyous news that he and his wife are expecting their first child this spring.
“Life holds so much to appreciate,” he said.
The Morikawas are expecting 🥰
There is no better time to make the announcement! pic.twitter.com/yklxM40MnL
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 15, 2026
Scheffler started the final round eight shots back and surged to 7 under through the first seven holes before the wind picked up. He recorded three eagles during his round of 63, the last being a 6-iron that landed just 30 inches from the hole on 18, allowing him to tie Morikawa for the lead.
“I was very aware of Scottie Scheffler’s score today. What an incredible player,” Morikawa mentioned.
Scheffler doubted it would be sufficient, and he was right.
Shortly after, Morikawa made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to take the lead. He followed up with a 6-iron that left him 8 feet for another birdie. but, a bogey on the par-3 17th — his tee shot landed perilously close to the ocean’s edge — and Lee finishing with back-to-back birdies for a 65 led to another tie.
With all the drama, the tension heightened on the par-5 18th as Morikawa waited. He had to endure a 20-minute wait from his tee shot to hitting his 4-iron, which felt even longer given the stakes.
“I managed to hit a great 4-iron,” he said. “And boy, I could use a drink.”
Akshay Bhatia, the 54-hole leader by two shots, made just two birdies over his final 29 holes. He lost the lead after four holes and finished with a 72, three shots behind.
Scheffler started the tournament ten shots back after a first-round 72 and found himself 13 shots back at one point on Friday. still, he emerged as a formidable contender, tying for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood (66), which extended his streak of top-10 finishes to 18 PGA Tour events.
He became the first player in tour history to achieve three eagles in a single round at Pebble.
“I had to pull off something special to create an opportunity,” Scheffler said. “On the back nine, I felt I had to reach 21 or 22 (under). I played a bit more aggressively than usual. Overall, it was a fun day. These are the weeks I’m proud of as I felt like I was battling for a chance.”
Among his regrets was a shot with a wedge to a back pin on the 15th that nearly spun back to close range but instead flew hard over the green. He chipped to 6 feet but missed the par putt.
Morikawa climbed back into contention with a 62 on Saturday, closing the gap to Bhatia, and he stayed competitive, with six players sharing the lead at different points during the final round, ultimately delivering in the clutch.
The Cal graduate’s win marks his seventh on the PGA Tour since turning pro the week before the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, propelling him to No. 5 in the world rankings.
Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.
