Collin Morikawa’s 2 stunning modifications have him near discovering himself

Collin Morikawa has been looking: Looking for a brand new caddie, for the precise putter, for an outdated swing really feel, for his first win because the fall of 2023.

The world No. 5 arrived on the 2025 Rocket Traditional at Detroit Golf Membership with a fill-in caddie after parting methods with Joe Greiner, whom he had employed in Might after parting methods with long-time caddie J.J. Jakovac. Early within the week, Morikawa examined out a number of completely different putters after dropping over 10 strokes placing on the U.S. Open and Vacationers Championship. Final week at TPC River Highlands, Morikawa hit a few of his pictures with out a glove as he appeared for the precise really feel together with his palms.

All of that led Morikawa to a first-round three-under-par 69, the place he misplaced over 4 pictures on the inexperienced and stated he “putted like a blind man.” Seven pictures off the first-round lead at a course that surrenders a ton of birdies, it appeared that Detroit wouldn’t yield the solutions that Morikawa requires to interrupt again into the winner’s circle.

However Morikawa made a mid-tournament putter change on Friday and picked up three strokes on the greens whereas firing an eight-under 64. He additionally picked up virtually two pictures on strategy as he vaulted into rivalry.

Morikawa backed up that efficiency with a four-under spherical on Saturday, the place he picked up two-and-a-half pictures on strategy and was optimistic on the greens.

The 2-time main winner should go low Sunday to snap his drought — he sits 4 pictures again of 54-hole chief Aldrich Potgieter — however two issues have spurred a resurgence that bode effectively for the remainder of the season: a putter change and acceptance.

“I’ve been asking TaylorMade, it truly was a undertaking to construct over the autumn they usually had been capable of come by, and sort of early within the season after I had it, each time I used to be going to attempt to use it and put it in, the week earlier than main up the blade felt actually good so I haven’t had that huge of a shot to place it in,” Morikawa stated Saturday of his new putter.

That new putter is a one-of-one TaylorMade remake of a putter that Morikawa used earlier in his profession. It’s a mallet-style putter with a plumber’s neck and Diamana shaft. The remake that matches the specs of Morikawa’s outdated putter with larger MOI and the most recent TaylorMade tech insert.

“Collin switched right into a prototype putter made for him within the TaylorMade Putter Lab at HQ again in April,” TaylorMade Tour rep James Holley informed Golf.com. “This prototype was impressed by Collin and his want to check a head that was just like those he performed in school. We made a head with a brand new sole geometry to work together with his setup. It’s 2 components, metal physique/hosel and an aluminum sole plate. The only plate might be milled to completely different (physique loft) angles to match his slight ahead press arrange.”

Morikawa switched to the TaylorMade Spider V Tour mallet putter after the Masters this yr, however solely used that putter for 2 tournaments earlier than going again to a blade putter. He put in a brand new Logan Olson 1.0 Spherical with a milled face final week on the Vacationers, however now has gone to the one-of-one putter he requested TaylorMade craft within the offseason.

The brand new flatstick has been a welcome sight, however the extra vital improvement has are available Morikawa’s iron play.

After dropping over three pictures on strategy final week in Connecticut, Morikawa ranks first in Strokes Gained: Method this week. He’s doing so by not forcing himself to attempt to hit his regular lower, however by accepting the shot he presently has in his management and using with that.

“I’m taking part in a barely completely different shot than I might ideally like, however there comes a degree the place I simply should cease preventing it and I simply should exit and play golf,” Morikawa stated Saturday. “It’s irritating as a result of a few of the pictures that I’ll have, I do know what I can do, however they’re simply not performing that manner. So I’ve to sort of cater to the pictures I’ve, which is a straight ball to a two-yard draw to a two-yard fade. It’s very tight dispersions, which I don’t thoughts. I’ve to assume a little bit bit in a different way about how I strategy them.”

Morikawa will attempt to get the timing of his swing synced up so he can ultimately return to the usually dependable lower. However for now, he received’t attempt to pressure it. He’ll play the pictures he has and hope that’s adequate on Sunday to trace down Potgieter.

“If I can put collectively what I’ve seen during the last three days, hopefully I could make that special occasion occur,” Morikawa stated. “Look, I do know what’s at stake, I wish to discover a technique to get it accomplished tomorrow.”

As for the long-term caddie, Morikawa will begin the search after this week however is aware of it may take some extra trial and error to search out the precise character match on his bag.

Whereas Morikawa hasn’t received because the 2023 Zozo Championship, he has three top-10 finishes and two runner-ups this yr. He has been shut, however his sport has dipped over the previous few months. Since his T10 on the Gamers Championship, Morikawa hasn’t completed inside the highest 12 of a match. That features a T50 on the PGA Championship and a tie for twenty third on the U.S. Open.

However every week in Detroit may need helped Morikawa unlock what he’s in search of. Generally all it takes is acceptance and the willingness to make a change.