In this week’s “The Starter,” PGA professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, gives his thoughts on the week that was in golf for R.org. Collin Morikawa ends a lengthy drought with a clutch performance at Pebble Beach. Scottie Scheffler’s historic run continues despite another slow start. Anthony Kim completes one of golf’s most improbable comebacks. And Charlie Woods announces his college destination.

PGA TOUR: Morikawa Ends the Wait: First Victory Since 2023 Comes at Pebble Beach

The Winning Moment

After 45 starts and more than two years without a victory, Collin Morikawa finally broke through at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 27-year-old closed with a 5-under 67 on Sunday to finish at 22-under 266, edging Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee by a single stroke.

The victory came with added significance. Morikawa revealed after his win that he and his wife, Kat, are expecting their first child later this year. “We just started telling people this week,” Morikawa said through tears. “We said what a better way, the best way to announce it to the world if I was able to win.”

The final hole provided the week’s most dramatic moment. After Jacob Bridgeman hit his second shot over the bunker and down to the beach on 18, play came to a standstill. Morikawa waited nearly 20 minutes between his tee shot and approach, pacing to the ocean repeatedly to stay loose in the biting Pacific wind.

“I think I paced all the way to the ocean 10 times at least,” Morikawa said. “These long breaks, they’re not good for anyone to stand still. I was able to pull off a great 4-iron, and man, I need a drink.”

That 4-iron started over the water before the wind pushed it to the right collar. Morikawa two-putted from there to secure his seventh PGA TOUR title and first since the 2023 Baycurrent Championship in Japan.

Iron Play Dominance

Morikawa’s victory was built on the foundation that has defined his career: elite iron play. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach to the Green with a staggering 9.681 for the week, nearly three full strokes better than any other player. He hit 60 of 72 greens in regulation (83.33%), second-best in the field, and tied for the tournament lead with 27 birdies.

“His iron play down the stretch, really all day, was great,” said playing partner Straka. “He’s one of the best iron players of our generation probably.”

The performance was particularly impressive given Morikawa’s opening round. He shot 3-under on Thursday and sat T39, eight shots behind the leaders. But rounds of 67-62-67 propelled him to victory, with Saturday’s 10-under performance moving him into contention.

The win moves Morikawa back into the top 10 in the world rankings and provides momentum heading into next week’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, just miles from where he grew up in Los Angeles.

Scheffler’s Remarkable Consistency: 18 Straight Top-10s Despite Another Rough Start

The Pattern Continues

Scottie Scheffler has a problem—though calling it a problem feels absurd given the results. For the third consecutive event to start 2026, the world No. 1 stumbled out of the gate before mounting a furious comeback.

At Pebble Beach, Scheffler opened with an even-par 72 that left him 10 shots behind the leaders and in a tie for 62nd. His response? Rounds of 65-67-63 to finish T4 at 20-under, extending his streak of consecutive top-10 finishes to 18.

It’s now the longest such streak on the PGA TOUR in more than 60 years, surpassing Billy Casper’s mark from 1965.

“A frustrating start to both of the last couple weeks,” Scheffler admitted. “But I think these are some of the weeks when you look back, I’m very proud of sticking with it, not giving up even when I felt like things were going against me.”

Scheffler’s final-round 63 featured three eagles, including a spectacular 6-iron from 186 yards on the 18th hole that settled just 3 feet from the cup. He briefly held a share of the lead at 20-under before the groups ahead continued making birdies in the calmer-than-expected conditions.

The pattern is becoming familiar. Scheffler shot 73 in the opening round at the WM Phoenix Open before finishing T3. He won the Sony Open in Hawaii despite not having his best stuff early. In his last eight stroke-play events dating to mid-July, Scheffler has lost to only 10 players while collecting four victories.

“It’s almost like I’m playing a wolf game; you’re trying to birdie every single hole,” Scheffler said of his aggressive Sunday approach. “If I shot 75 today it wouldn’t make much difference. Just get up there and kind of freewheeled it and did some nice things.”

Other Compelling Storylines from Pebble Beach

McIlroy’s Sunday Surge

Rory McIlroy delivered the round of the day with an 8-under 64 that vaulted him 25 positions up the leaderboard into a T14 finish. The defending champion made eight birdies without a bogey, his best round of the week by far.

“I played 68 really good holes this week,” McIlroy said. “I wish I could have those four holes back. Even if you turn those three doubles into bogeys and that triple into a bogey, that’s five shots and all of a sudden you’re looking at having a three-shot lead.”

McIlroy made three double bogeys and a triple bogey during the week but showed the form that should make him dangerous at next week’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera.

Lee’s Equipment Changes Pay Off

Min Woo Lee finished T2 after making significant equipment changes this week, switching to a new Callaway Quantum driver and an unreleased putter. The Australian closed with a 7-under 65 to jump five positions on the final day.

“I thought it was a good time after last week,” Lee said. “Just wanted to feel a little bit more of the club when I was swinging. A lot of it was playing with Chris Gotterup. He won last week, and he just had the ball on a string with low spin.”

The T2 finish was Lee’s best result in a Signature Event and should help his chances of qualifying for additional high-profile tournaments this season.

LIV GOLF: Anthony Kim’s Stunning LIV Golf Victory: Redemption Realized

In one of the most remarkable comeback stories in golf history, Anthony Kim captured his first professional victory in 16 years at LIV Golf Adelaide, finishing at 23-under par. The 39-year-old, who had just officially signed with 4Aces GC before the tournament started, overcame a 5-shot deficit to Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau with a breathtaking final-round 9-under 63.

The turning point came at hole 12, The Watering Hole, where Kim drained a dramatic birdie putt that tied him with Rahm. From there, he seized control with a relentless string of birdies on holes 13, 14, 15, and 17 that left the field in his wake. When his final putt dropped on 18, Kim celebrated emotionally with his wife and daughter, the culmination of a journey guided by his “1% better every day” mantra.

Kim’s path from promising young star to mysterious 12-year absence to triumphant return has captivated the golf world. His victory serves as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim past glory, even after more than a decade away from the game.

Charlie Woods Commits to Florida State

Charlie Woods, the 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods, announced his verbal commitment to play college golf at Florida State University beginning in fall 2027. The high school junior made the announcement on Instagram, ending speculation about his college destination.

Woods currently ranks No. 21 on the Rolex AJGA Rankings and won last year’s AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational. He’ll join No. 1-ranked junior Miles Russell, who committed to FSU in June, creating one of the nation’s top incoming recruiting classes.

“It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie and go through it,” Tiger Woods said last fall. “See where the opportunities that he has that he has created for himself by playing better, places that he could play, wants to play.”

Florida State’s program, led by coach Trey Jones, has produced major champions Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger, along with current PGA TOUR standout Luke Clanton. The Seminoles finished ninth at last spring’s NCAA Championship, one stroke shy of match play.

For Charlie Woods, the decision represents another step in forging his own path in golf while honoring the game’s traditions. Official signing day will come in November.