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2022 Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua

By Mike Randleman

January 9, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Collin Morikawa (left) putts in front of Ryan Palmer (right) on the 10th hole during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 9, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Collin Morikawa (left) putts in front of Ryan Palmer (right) on the 10th hole during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 9, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Collin Morikawa walks on the 10th hole during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 9, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Collin Morikawa walks on the 10th hole during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

As long as he wants to keep playing it, Collin Morikawa looks like he can pencil himself into the Tournament of Champions annually.

The 24-year-old is already making his third trek to Kapalua. Each time resulted in a T-7th finish, but I like for him to improve upon where he left off in 2021 and contend at this event for the first time.

It’s a course where he can use the bounding fairways to gain more distance. More importantly, all the uneven lies should help his elite iron play shine through.

Morikawa put on a ball-striking clinic to win the Open Championship last year, one of three worldwide wins that all came against top-notch fields. He missed just one cut all year at The Northern Trust where he was battling a back injury. A poor run in the FedEx Cup Playoffs due to these concerns is really the only way you could pick apart his season.

The former Cal Golden Bear finished top-20 in three majors, including T-4th at The U.S. Open.

The last time we saw Morikawa, besides his appearance in the Taylormade “A Christmas Story” spoof commercial that drew mixed reviews, was at the Hero World Challenge, where he took T-5th at Tiger’s exhibition event. He led by as much as five on Sunday before uncharacteristically losing the lead.

Prior to that, Morikawa was on the other end of a comeback when he sealed the Race to Dubai season-long victory on the DP World Tour by winning the DP World Tour Championship in comeback fashion against Rory McIlroy.

Morikawa ranked first on the PGA Tour last season in strokes gained approach (1.17) and was a respectable 36th in SG off the tee (.281) despite ranking 112th in distance.

He shot 71-71-70-71 in tough conditions at the 2020 Tournament of Champions and 69-65-65-73 in 2021.

Next. Phil Mickelson: Which tour will he play in 2022?. dark

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