Collin Morikawa’s win at Workday part of a youth movement in the PGA

The Workday Charity Open came down to a three-way shoot-out with 20-somethings Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland.

Just last month, 23-year-old Collin Morikawa had found himself in a tense play-off with another 27-year-old. At the Charles Schwab Challenge, Daniel Berger’s experience triumphed over the young challenger, after a four-foot putt lipped out.

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This time, however, Morikawa displayed nerves of steel, in not one, not two, but three playoff holes, where he chipped in a par shot after Thomas’ bogie miss to seal the deal. The win at Workday is Morikawa’s second PGA victory, even more impressive since the Cal graduate joined the tour last year, having missed only one cut in 24 starts.

It’s difficult to think of Justin Thomas as the elder statesman of a field at age 27, but his spectacular eagle on the 15th could hardly be enjoyed with two young guns nipping at his heels, including the talented Norwegian Viktor Hovland, 22, new to the PGA Tour since last year.

Thomas, Hovland, and ultimately Morikawa traded the lead in a thrilling final day of golf, with the 22-year-old Hovland rising to the occasion early on with three birdies on the front nine. Perhaps the pressure got to this year’s Puerto Rican Open winner, but the 67 he shot on Friday and his 66 on Saturday is an indication that we can expect to see a lot more from this wunderkid.

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Morikawa played bold and beautiful to clinch his second PGA win, which came down to some spectacular shot-making in the play-off, including this 50-footer by Thomas:

However, that was answered by this beauty by Morikawa:

It took three playoffs for Collin Morikawa to eek out the clutch win, but he demonstrated admirable resolve when he needed it most. Coming the week after 21-year-old Matt Wolff—who duked it out with Morikawa for his first PGA win—finished tied for second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, there is clearly a youth movement in men’s golf.

But don’t feel bad for Justin Thomas; he has now overtaken the FedEx Cup rankings in the No. 1 spot.

The PGA Tour returns to the same golf club in Dublin, Ohio next week for the Memorial Tournament, where we will see what the commanding veteran, Tiger Woods, has to say about all this young talent.