Morikawa takes in the view at Pebble, then takes the AT&T Pro Am

PEBBLE BEACH — Oh yes, the endless sea sweeping in against the rocks, an artist’s dream, and in one instance a golfer’s perfect distraction.

So much time to wait on the 18th tee at Pebble Beach Sunday. A tournament in doubt. Collin Morikawa, tied for the lead, contemplated the setting and not the outcome.

“I tried to think about anything else other than golf. Thankfully, you had the nicest backdrop you could ask for,” said Morikawa. “So that was very, very easy. For me, it was how do I stay loose, how do I stay warm and not just think about the shot.”

When he hit that shot, a 4-iron, it landed an inch off the green, some 25 feet from the cup. Two putts later, he had a 5-under par 67 and a one-shot victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am. 

Morikawa, the Cal grad, who has British Open and PGA Championships in his six years on tour, finished with a four-round total of 266, atop a leaderboard filled with big names that have big games. 

Min Woo Lee (65) and Sepp Straka (68) were a shot back at 267, while Scottie Scheffler played very much to his capability, going 6-under the first seven holes and with two eagles on par fives, shooting a tremendous 63 that enabled him to tie with Tommy Fleetwood for fifth at 268.  Akshay Bhatia, who was in the lead after rounds two and three, wobbled to a one-over-par 72 and ended up tied for sixth with Sam Burns. 

The final round had been moved up an hour in hopes of avoiding the predicted storm. That plan worked as well as Morikawa’s golf. Although there was a wind, it wasn’t strong enough to distress the players. 

“It’s an iconic venue,” said Morikawa of Pebble. “I think growing up, you think about the majors, and you have this separate list of golf courses that you just want to go play as a kid, and just go play when you turn professional. I would say Pebble Beach is exactly on top of that list.”

Morikawa, 29, had struggled in recent months. The win was his first in two and a half years. He had trouble putting.

But there was no problem on the greens this AT&T tournament. Saturday, he shot a 62, and while Pebble was softened because of a week of rain, that still is an impressive score. Asked about his ineffectiveness the past several months, Morikawa said, “I think it was more just believing and knowing why I’m here. I think I’ve been trying to make golf so perfect, trying to hit these shots and trying to make these putts in a certain way that maybe others are doing it, that you forget how to play the game of golf.” 

He certainly remembered the last few days. 

“I think I just want to go out and just keep crushing these goals and keep being myself,” he said. “Going out and playing great golf and trying to put that smile on my face.” 

Who wouldn’t smile after a victory at Pebble Beach?