Morikawa's Tour Championship hopes fade after late-round collapse
Collin Morikawa dropped from one stroke off the lead to a tie for 16th after bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes on Saturday. He finished the round at 2-over 72, eight strokes behind leader Viktor Hovland. Hovland shot 65 to take a one-shot lead at 15 under.
Morikawa's opening two rounds featured 10 birdies against just one bogey, setting him up for a weekend charge at East Lake. His Saturday stumble began with a bogey at the fifth hole, though he recovered with a birdie at six and remained within striking distance through 13 holes before the back-nine collapse.
The leaderboard remains tightly bunched behind Hovland, with five players within five strokes of the lead. Rory McIlroy's nine-birdie 63 highlighted the day's best scoring, while only four of 29 competitors failed to break par. Morikawa now needs a strong final round to secure a fourth top-10 finish in seven appearances at this event.
This collapse could reshape the season's final leaderboard and affect Morikawa's momentum heading into next year's majors, given his status as a two-time major champion. The Tour Championship's $10 million prize means every shot carries outsized financial weight, and viewers following the event may see how pressure at elite levels can rapidly alter outcomes. Hovland's pursuit of a second title in three years could also influence fan interest in the tour's season-ending format.