The Masters Tournament of 2026 was no small test for Collin Morikawa, as he had to endure considerable pain through all 72 holes of the championship.

The reason behind the Masters being so gruelling for him dates back to March 2026, when Morikawa had to withdraw from The Players Championship after completing just one hole due to an acute back injury sustained while making a practice swing. He also missed the Texas Open, choosing to get better.

Apart from playing at such a major tournament, an important personal motivation helped him stay committed. He is preparing for his soon-to-come firstborn and is working to become more fit to be able to spend a good time with them.

"It's motivation for me to get healthy," Morikawa said when asked about his baby. "I want to be able to pick him up, roll around, play with him."

Collin Morikawa was swinging through the discomfort during the Masters. He said that it wasn't necessarily his back, but "other parts of the body not cooperating" the way he wanted them to. But his perseverance led him to a tied 7th place with a 9-under par total score. He managed to achieve consistent scores of 74, 69, 68, and 68. Still, Morikawa said that he was playing at "50%" health.

But the 50% that he did have with him, he made sure to make the best out of it. When he was at the No. 12, Morikawa was trailing by seven and was 1-under after 11 holes. But there, he landed a 20-footer, and scripted a massive comeback by nailing five straight birdies afterwards.

Collin Morikawa Is Going to Remember This Tournament for a Reason

Despite his ongoing recovery, Morikawa remains honest about the difficulties that still lie ahead. The golfer admitted he did not anticipate having a great week given his physical condition.

Concerning his mental fortitude in handling such a situation, he stated, "I'm going to remember this one for many reasons, but just more how strong the mind is, to be able to go out and convince yourself that everything is going to be okay."

Morikawa finished tied for seventh place, by three strokes behind the champion, Rory McIlroy. Though his professional game continued to be outstanding, his mindset appears to have changed towards becoming a better parent.

The 29-year-old said that this is one of the "best tournaments" of his career. Since he nearly missed out on the Masters because of his injury, Collin Morikawa has all the reasons to celebrate this commendable finish. It'd also make a great story to share with his newborn!

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Afreen Kabir