Masters 2026: Collin Morikawa admits he’s ‘never felt this nervous … in my life’ ahead of opening round
Collin Morikawa is no stranger to pressure-packed situations, but he said nothing compared to how he felt Thursday morning
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Collin Morikawa has been in a ton of pressure moments. The two-time major champion says nothing compared to his mental state on Thursday morning before the opening round of the Masters.
This had nothing to do with the pressure of playing in a major. It had to do with the state of his back. Morikawa withdrew from the Players after one hole after tweaking his back on a practice swing.
RELATED: Masters 2026: Overheard in the gallery at Augusta National on Thursday Much was made about his practice sessions leading into the Masters, as range data revealed he hadn’t hit a driver that went further than 279 yards—showing he wasn’t trusting his back enough to go after a tee shot. That obviously translated to how felt ahead of Thursday's opening round, as he revealed in speaking with the press after his two-over 74. "I t all started when I woke up.
I've never felt this nervous, like, in my life. I've played in majors," Morikawa said. "I've played in other events.