Open champion Collin Morikawa determined to seize the opportunity in the Race to Dubai bid

Open champion Collin Morikawa is determined not to let his chance of becoming the first American to win the Race to Dubai slip through his fingers.

Morikawa got the chance to top the Medal of Merit when he won last year’s DP World Tour, his first regular tournament. Europe Tour incident.

Twelve months on, the two-time major champion has 236 points ahead of compatriot Billy Horschel on the leaderboard and could even finish last in the 53-man field and still succeed Lee. Westwood as Europe’s number one.

The 24-year-old world number two, who was awarded an honorary membership of the European Tour on Wednesday in recognition of his open victory at Royal St George’s, said: “I don’t take the week lightly, this.

“I’ve done a lot of work in the last week, the last few days to be ready to come out here and play as well as I can.

“I think I said this last year, you don’t know how many chances you have to win the Race to Dubai, and I was very lucky to do well this year in a major. and WGC (World Golf Championship Events) to help me get this position. ”

Morikawa also topped the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the regular season on the PGA Tour, but a lingering back injury contributed to missing the first playoff game and a 63rd draw in a 69-man field in the mail. two.

That meant he slipped to 11th on the Tour Championship in Atlanta, leading to a controversial handicap seven shots behind leader Patrick Cantlay.

“We’re at the end of the season and I made that mistake with the way the PGA Tour and the FedEx Cup went, getting myself injured and a bit unfortunate in the way the playoffs were played,” Morikawa said. to add.

“I’ve worked so hard during the regular season to put myself in a good position that I don’t want to let this pass. It would make a lot of sense to be the first American to win the Race to Dubai. ”

Absence of world number one Jon Rahm, third in the standings, which means six players could win the Race to Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

A win for Morikawa or Horschel would guarantee them the title, while Tyrrell Hatton, Min Woo Lee, Paul Casey and Matt Fitzpatrick need to win and see if other results follow the lead.

“When it comes to tournaments like this and you have a chance to win a season-long race like the Race to Dubai, you can’t worry about what if-if or what points might add up. again,” Morikawa added. “The goal is to win the tournament.

“I really am not (aware of the circumstances). Normally I am a person who likes to know everything, to know the points, to know the possible path.

“I’m sure there are a lot of scenarios that happen but if I start worrying about them, they can come true and I could have the worst outcome of that.”

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