Collin Morikawa, currently the fifth-ranked golfer in the world, is creating a stir this week. He’s decided to go in a new direction by splitting with his longtime caddie, J.J. Jakovac. It has been an overwhelming season for Morikawa with two second-place finishes, including this week, in only eight events. Next, he is preparing to test his mettle at the Truist Championship in Philadelphia from May 8-11. As of late last week, reports were trickling in that Morikawa had brought on Joe Greiner as his new looper. This decision opens an exciting new chapter, professionally and personally.
Jakovac, who had been an essential member of Morikawa’s team since the latter turned professional in 2019, During their six-year collaboration, the duo achieved remarkable success, securing six victories on the PGA Tour, including two prestigious major championships: the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship. Their winning collaboration helped launch Morikawa to the ranks of golf’s superstars. The stats he accumulated during that time are staggering – 11 second-place finishes, two third-place finishes, 29 top-fives and 44 top-10s. Morikawa’s cut-making prowess Morikawa has already made 109 of 129 cuts since turning pro.
The decision to split with Jakovac came in early April, following a challenging weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where Morikawa and his teammate Kurt Kitayama missed the cut. Although Morikawa has faced these disappointments, he continues to be positive about his upcoming summer tour schedule. His most recent win was at the Zozo Championship in October 2023, a sure sign that age has not dulled his competitive edge or skill.
As Morikawa takes things one round at a time for next week’s Truist Championship, his play thus far creates a solid foundation to build from moving forward. Music City’s Joe Greiner rounds out his team with a new blood, new perspective and a lot of momentum. He is hoping to return to a victorious perch. The golf world will surely be tuning in to see how this move goes and how it impacts Morikawa’s game in the future.
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