Morikawa won the Open in his debut and became the first player to capture two different majors on the first attempt.
SANDWICH, England — Collin Morikawa was making one of the most satisfying walks in golf, down the 18th fairway as a soon-to-be British Open champion, when he looked up at the huge grandstand surrounding the green. It was filled with spectators, who firstly were applauding and soon giving a standing ovation to a 24-year-old American making a historic start to his major championship career. So different to 11 months ago, when Morikawa won his first major — the PGA Championship — at an empty venue. “I hope the thing is off the table,” Morikawa said, “that I can play with fans and I can play well on a Sunday.” Fans. No fans. Parkland. Now even links. Morikawa is the real deal, make no mistake. The mature-beyond-his-years Californian closed with a bogey-free,4-under 66 at Royal St. George’s and won the British Open in his debut Sunday, becoming the first player to capture two different majors on the first attempt. And this time there was a crowd, at 32,000 the biggest since golf returned following the coronavirus outbreak. After tapping in for par to win by two shots over Jordan Spieth, he gave a fist pump before applauding the spectators. Before long, he was being handed the claret jug that so many go their entire career without winning. He gazed adoringly at it, then thrust it into the air and gave it a kiss. “Those are the moments, the few seconds that you embrace so much,” he said. “And you look around, every seat is packed. Everywhere is packed with people.” They were seeing a young player already halfway to the career Grand Slam after eight starts, the first since Bobby Jones in 1926 to win two majors in so few appearances. He follows Gene Sarazen, Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Spieth in winning multiple majors before turning 25.
