The Japan Times - No.4 Morikawa ponders career Slam with Masters in his sights

World number four Morikawa captured the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 British Open. The 28-year-old American would love to move one step closer to the feat by winning this week's Masters at Augusta National.

He has two top-five finishes at both the Masters and US Open over the past four years, sharing third last year for his best Masters showing.

That's enough to ponder joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player and Ben Hogan in the career Slam club.

"I've been in the lead at the Masters last year. A few years ago even at Brookline (2022 US Open) I was leading through 36. Yeah, it creeps in," Morikawa said.

"If it doesn't creep in, then you really don't care. For me, you care so you want to put yourself in these positions. It doesn't always work out but it's definitely something you want to try and accomplish.

"I do know fully how hard it is, but it's not like one of them I haven't played well. I've been close. It's just keep knocking at the door."

He intends to pound a bit harder at the Masters this week, where his shotmaking has him comfortable and confident.

"I think it's just getting comfortable," Morikawa said. "The more reps you get in, the more you understand this golf course, how you play it and how you fit it into your game.

"I've found a way in the past few years how to kind of dissect this golf course and really use my strengths, especially with irons and the undulating greens, to take that to my advantage and hopefully give myself a lot of looks."

Morikawa, a runner-up last month at Bay Hill and in the season-opening tournament of champions, leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee to green, just ahead of world number two Rory McIlroy and top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler.

Morikawa was one stroke off the Masters lead after 54 holes last year before a final-round 74 doomed that dream.

Recovery from a major defeat, Morikawa said, is a never-ending process.

"I don't think it ever stops, the recovery stuff. I think you look back and think, what could I have done different?" Morikawa said.

"Because it just always brings up the memories of some good, some bad. Last year I think I was in a place where I didn't feel like I was in control of my game.

"I look back at last year and a lot of it was how do I just make do with what I have. You can win tournaments like that, but if you're really trying to win the Masters, you want to be a little bit more in control."

T.Ueda--JT