Collin Morikawa’s pair of 69s keep him within distance of lead at 2023 Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Collin Morikawa paid attention to the Masters leaderboard as he navigated Augusta National Golf Club on Friday, working his way to a second consecutive 69 at the 87th Masters Tournament behind typical precise ballstriking.

Overcoming a six-shot deficit in 36 holes is daunting. Because it’s four-time major winner Brooks Koepka he’s chasing, Morikawa knows birdies will be required to make his move. He’ll lean on his own major success, understanding the potential for volatility on the leaderboard during a Masters weekend.

Especially with the nasty weather ahead.

“Brooks is a great player. Obviously he’s playing really well. He won last week. To be 12 under through 36, it’s some really good golf,” Morikawa said. “But I think with the weather and everything, you’re going to have to really stay patient, and I’m going to have to go out and make some birdies.”

The Saturday forecast is awful – highs in the low 50s, a stiff north wind and heavy rain expected.

Masters Leaderboard: Live leaderboard, schedule, tee times

“Yeah, look, I’m glad I put up a good round. Hopefully I’ll still stay near the top of the leaderboard come the end of the Friday cut and whatnot. Hopefully I can miss a bunch of what happens tomorrow.”

Morikawa made four birdies Friday and narrowly missed two or three more. He handled three of the par 5s in routine fashion and struck a crisp long iron within 14 feet on the 240-yard par-3 4th to set up another. He’s top-10 in proximity to the hole after two Masters rounds and top-20 in greens in regulation, creating ample opportunities.

“Just kind of managing my game piece by piece, putting it in the right spots, and I’ve just got to convert a few of those extra birdies, and we’d be closer to 10,” he said.

Morikawa won the 2020 PGA Championship in his native California. He followed it with a dominant performance in the 2021 Open Championship but hasn’t won since, squandering a seven-shot lead in the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January.

He has three top-10 finishes and is 15th in the FedEx Cup standings.

With his accurate driving and excellent long iron play though, his game is built for major championships. He closed with a 67 in the Masters last year to finish fifth, a career-best in four previous appearances.

“I’ve been able to close out a couple so far. Look, it’s very hard to close out a major. It really is. Major championships are just different. People show up breathing differently, feeling differently,” Morikawa said. “I don’t think he’s really going to come backwards, so we’re going to have to go out and chase him, and that’s going to be on me to figure out how to make a few more out there for these next 36.”

Morikawa said Augusta National played the easiest he’s seen it the last two days. It was fun while it lasted.

“When you’re on 12 and you’re on that par-3, you’re not worried about anything,” he said. “You’ve always had to worry about wind switches, anything, is it windy down below, high. Past couple times it’s just been nice. We’ve gotten pretty lucky, but Mother Nature is not going to give up come Saturday and Sunday.”

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