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Golf roundup: Collin Morikawa first American to finish year No. 1 on European Tour

AP photo by Ashley Landis / Collin Morikawa celebrates while competing for the United States in the Ryder Cup singles matches on Sept. 26 in Sheboygan, Wis. On Sunday, Morikawa won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai to became the first American to finish a year with the points lead on the European Tour.
AP photo by Ashley Landis / Collin Morikawa celebrates while competing for the United States in the Ryder Cup singles matches on Sept. 26 in Sheboygan, Wis. On Sunday, Morikawa won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai to became the first American to finish a year with the points lead on the European Tour. AP photo by Ashley Landis / Collin Morikawa celebrates while competing for the United States in the Ryder Cup singles matches on Sept. 26 in Sheboygan, Wis. On Sunday, Morikawa won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai to became the first American to finish a year with the points lead on the European Tour.

By The Associated Press 9 min read

British Open champion, Ryder Cup winner and now the first American to finish a season as the European Tour’s No. 1 player. It’s been quite the golf year for Collin Morikawa.

The 24-year-old Californian demonstrated patience after a slow start Sunday, then showed world-class iron play down the stretch while making five birdies in his last seven holes to overhaul a fading Rory McIlroy and win the DP World Tour Championship.

Morikawa closed with a 6-under-par 66 to finish at 17-under 271 on the Earth Course in Dubai and win the tournament by three shots over England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (66) and Sweden’s Alexander Bjork (70). Morikawa’s win also sealed the Race to Dubai title as the leading points scorer on the European Tour in the 2021 season.

“It’s an honor to be the first American to do that, to put my name against many, many greats and Hall of Famers,” Morikawa said.

McIlroy, who was seeking back-to-back titles after his victory at the CJ Cup on the PGA Tour last month, started the final round with a one-stroke lead – three clear of Morikawa – and his game seemingly in its best shape for some time.