{"id":466395,"date":"2026-03-09T18:51:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/466395\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T18:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:51:12","slug":"pga-tour-star-issues-screwed-masters-verdict-after-change-to-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/466395\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA Tour star issues &#8216;screwed&#8217; Masters verdict after change to tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Collin Morikawa shared his favourite Masters tradition during the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the two-time major champion says there has been a change at Augusta National<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Collin Morikawa speaks with members of the media\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_Collin-Morikawa.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Collin Morikawa has spoken canddly about his favourite Masters  tradition\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Collin Morikawa has spoken canddly about his favourite Masters  tradition(Image: Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Collin Morikawa has admitted to taking the pencils every year at Augusta National after being asked about his favourite Masters tradition. However, the two-time major champion concedes that a recent change to longer versions has left him &#8220;screwed&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Morikawa, 29, has yet to win at Augusta, but does have three top-ten finishes from six Masters starts. His best effort was tied third with Max Homa and Tommy Fleetwood two years ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On that occasion, Morikawa was just a shot behind overnight leader <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/Scottie-Scheffler\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Scottie Scheffler<\/a> coming into the final round. However, scoring 74 sent him backwards, with the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">world<\/a> No. 1 winning.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36834592\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/golf\/rory-mcilroy-masters-pga-augusta-36834592\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rory McIlroy issues statement after injury forces withdrawal weeks before the Masters<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36832007\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/golf\/scottie-scheffler-masters-champions-dinner-36832007\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Scottie Scheffler names golfers he definitely won&#8217;t sit next to at Masters Champions Dinner<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Around a month out from this year&#8217;s edition, Morikawa spoke about his favourite tradition during a press conference at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. In response to the question, he replied: &#8220;I don&#8217;t really know, like what? Like what? Can you give me examples?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The reporter suggested &#8220;having a pimento cheese sandwich&#8221; or &#8220;watching the ceremonial first shot&#8221;. Morikawa then responded: &#8220;I take their pencils every year. I probably shouldn&#8217;t say that. They have gone to longer pencils, so now I&#8217;m screwed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It is not a one-off for Morikawa, either. The ones used at Pebble Beach are also among his favourites.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Masters logo on a hole flag\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_The-Masters-logo-on-a-hole-flag.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"The Masters pencils are a favourite of Collin Morikawa's\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The Masters pencils are a favourite of Collin Morikawa&#8217;s(Image: Jamie Squire, Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Morikawa said: &#8220;Pebble&#8217;s are staying in the bag, but, you know, I always take a couple, I guess, pencils. He secured a first win in 848 days at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and its prize of \u00a33 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 2021 Open champion is thus one of three players who will have a 2026 signature-event trophy heading into Augusta National. Morikawa believes that breaking the drought changes his approach to tournaments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said: &#8220;I think just overall mindset, I&#8217;ve been a lot &#8211; happier is not the right word &#8211; but just in a lot better headspace to trust my <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/golf\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">golf<\/a> game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"> All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I put in a lot of work over the off-season to get there, a lot of work into the body to make sure I could go and hit those shots and execute those shots. The first couple of events of the season didn&#8217;t see the results, but you just know you&#8217;re going to keep working at it, right?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That&#8217;s part of what we&#8217;re doing, is that, even though you finish T-50th or you miss a cut, it&#8217;s a couple shots away from doing great and essentially contending. It changes a little bit, but at the same time &#8230; you feel good, that doesn&#8217;t mean you&#8217;re going to play well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He explained: &#8220;You just have to stay on top of everything and just not get too complacent with anything. I&#8217;ve been really focused over this last week to really make sure to just tighten everything up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/affiliates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769642233_249_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a349<\/p>\n<p>\u00a335<\/p>\n<p>Sky<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=11005&amp;awinaffid=213635&amp;campaign=&amp;clickref=Mirror-football.london&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Fdeals&amp;platform=pl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Get the deal here<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025\/26 season, saving \u00a3336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Collin Morikawa shared his favourite Masters tradition during the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the two-time major champion says&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":466396,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[165677,157581,158492,5904,159926,101,10509,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-466395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-arnold-palmer-invitational","tag-att-pebble-beach-national-pro-am","tag-augusta-national-inc","tag-golf","tag-pebble-beach-company","tag-sports","tag-the-masters","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=466395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/466396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=466395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=466395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=466395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}