2021 US Open: Top 10 power rankings at Torrey Pines

Collin Morikawa won his first major in his home state of California. He’s trending toward  picking up another one in the Golden State.

In just his second year as a pro, Morikawa separated from a crowded leaderboard at the 2020 PGA Championship to win at TPC Harding Park near where he played collegiately at Cal-Berkeley.

It was his third of now four PGA Tour wins by age 24 as he won most recently at the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship.

Morikawa nearly won a couple weeks ago at the Memorial Tournament, losing in a playoff to Patrick Cantlay.

Morikawa has made the cut in five of six career majors, and has finished in the top 20 in both this year. The Los Angeles native posted T-18th at the Masters and T-8th at the PGA Championship.

He’s made his last 10 worldwide stroke play cuts in a row (nine PGA Tour) dating back to October. Morikawa’s finished 18th or better in his last five tournaments.

This is Morikawa’s second pro appearance at Torrey Pines. He finished T-21st at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open where he fired rounds of 69-74-69 on the South course.

Morikawa is regarded as one of the best iron players on the planet. He’s first on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (1.455) and first in greens in regulation (71.83%).

He’s also second in proximity from the fairway (29’5”), first in proximity from 125-150 yards (16’3”), third from 150-175 (23’6”) and first from 175-200 (27’6”).

It’s all about getting the putter rolling. It’s been Morikawa’s weakness, though he should at least be plenty familiar on poa annua greens.

This week sets up great for Morikawa to contend for another major win, this one with some fans in attendance to witness it.

Other contenders all have something to overcome this week: Jon Rahm is coming off the roller coaster Saturday at Memorial. Dustin Johnson has struggled for the better part of three months. Brooks Koepka is still battling a knee injury and the reigning U.S. Open champion hasn’t made a cut at Torrey Pines. Xander Schauffele has had more disappointment than success in his home ballpark.

Collin Morikawa comes in without much drama. He’s already one of the more thoughtful, level-headed guys out there He’ll use that to his advantage to win golf’s toughest test.