Collin Morikawa of the United States tees off on the first hole during the final round of the men’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Photo by Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
He entered the Tokyo Olympics ranked third in the world after his British Open title two weeks ago. Go back five years to the 2016 Olympics, and Collin Morikawa checked in at No. 540 in the world.
“Think about this. … two years ago I wasn’t even a professional golfer. Now we are here at the Olympics,” he said after his second round.
After his third-round 67, Morikawa was inside the top 20 but must have figured a medal was out of reach. However, a closing 63 shot him up the leaderboard. He walked off the course in a tie for third, and maybe he started thinking about a bronze medal and a trip to the podium.
“I think what today brought out of me was more than just playing for myself I was playing for our country and I was able to fight and dig deep,” he said. But to anyone that has second thoughts or doubts about whether golf should be in the Olympics or whether they should go and play to represent their country, they absolutely should because the Olympics reaches a wider audience than anything, a lot of tournaments that we play.
“And whether this grows the game substantially or not, we’re doing our part to putting golf on the world stage and to see other athletes this is their pinnacle and I think golf will be very exciting for the future in the Olympics.”
Morikawa did make a playoff for bronze, part of a seven-way contest for third place but was eliminated on the fourth playoff hole as C.T. Pan won the medal.
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