INZAI, Japan: Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa said Wednesday that “winning is tough” as he looks for his first victory of the year at the US PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in Japan this week.
The American romped to last year’s title at Narashino Country Club near Tokyo by six shots to end a two-year title drought.
He has not lifted a trophy since and described his 2024 season, which has included two runner-up finishes, as “solid” rather than spectacular.
Morikawa was part of the United States team that beat the Internationals at the Presidents Cup in Montreal last month and is hoping to keep that form going this week in Japan.
“It’s a place I look forward to every year. Knowing that I won last year, lot of good memories,” said the 27-year-old, who has Japanese heritage.
“It was my first win in two years. Look, winning’s tough. No matter what it is, winning is tough. You have to learn how to win.”
Morikawa will be up against fellow American Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship and British Open in a breakthrough 2024, and Japan’s Olympic bronze-medallist Hideki Matsuyama.
Morikawa finished runner-up behind Scottie Scheffler at the season-ending Tour Championship last month but said “you just never know what to expect” when play begins.
“Every tournament’s different, you never know how you’re going to play on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,” he said.
“You’ve got to treat each day and each shot and take everything that’s in front of you, and not take anything for granted.”
Morikawa struggled to keep his emotions in check when he lifted the Zozo Championship trophy last year.
“Honestly, I’m not that emotional of a guy,” he said.
“Whenever something happens, you just never know what it’s going to be.”
Morikawa says ‘winning is tough’ ahead of Japan title defense
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Morikawa says ‘winning is tough’ ahead of Japan title defense
- The American romped to last year’s title by six shots to end a two-year title drought
- He has not lifted a trophy since and described his 2024 season as ‘solid’ rather than spectacular
Comoros chances at Cup of Nations hit by FIFA decision
- Comoros take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game on Dec. 21
- Comoros have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin
DUBAI: Comoros have had their chances of making an impact in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations severely impacted by FIFA’s surprise decision to delay the release of their players, said coach Stefano Cusin.
Comoros, who are the smallest nation competing, take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game in Rabat on December 21.
However, their expansive preparation plans have had to be canceled after FIFA changed the date that clubs have to release players to the national teams competing at the finals.
Last week, world football’s governing body announced that clubs need only release players on Dec. 15, seven days shy of the regulated 14-day period prior to a continental championship kickoff.
It has thrown plans for pre-tournament camps and friendlies into disarray for many of the 24 competing nations.
Comoros, competing at the finals for a second time and hoping to replicate the giant-killing havoc they caused in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin.
“We planned a training camp in Tunisia with a friendly game against Botswana this coming weekend,” he told Reuters.
“Everything was ready, but now we have had to change everything. It affects us more than other teams because we’re going to play in the opening game.”
Comoros draw all their players from clubs across Europe and the Middle East.
“Releasing players on December 15 means we’ll only get in four or five training sessions before our first game,” Cusin added.
“We are angry about that; it was not correct to tell us just one week before. If we’d known from the beginning, then we could have made a different plan.”
The dates for the upcoming Cup of Nations from December 21-January 18 were set to avoid any conflict with the Champions League and other European club competitions.
