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The Open Champion Collin Morikawa is a Student of the Game and You Should be Too

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

Collin Morikawa of the United States celebrates after his putt on the 18th hole as he wins The Open to become Open Champion during Day Four of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 18, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Collin Morikawa, 2021 Champion Golfer of the Year, has now won two out of his first eight major championships played. He won the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in his first attempts, an unparalleled achievement. 
At just 24 years old, Morikawa has already set countless remarkable marks in his amateur and very young professional career. One reason for this is his willingness to seek out advice from seasoned and accomplished veterans of the game. 
Taking your game to the next level, regardless of where it may be currently, is something that requires many things to come together all at once. It is common knowledge to most that learning the most you can about your game, how the mechanics of the game work in general and bridging the gap between the two through proper practice is the recipe to getting better from a technical standpoint. Mix in with that, learning how to play the game, so you are able to post numbers, and reach the goals you have in mind from a scoring standpoint. 
What Collin Morikawa demonstrated this week, through the story of his working with major champion Mark O’Meara, is yet another layer of how golfers can reach an entirely different level. Seeking out advice from those that have walked the journey before us is an incredible way of becoming the best that we can be. There is so much we can learn from others’ experiences, and what I have always found so cool about golf, is that those that have achieved great things in the game usually love sharing those experiences with others. You hear examples of this all the time…much like we heard this week of O’Meara sharing his feelings with Morikawa on gripping the putter. 
My advice, short of taking lessons, don’t be afraid to go seek out golfers in your circle that have achieved success or individuals that have a particular aspect of their game that you admire. It’s always a good idea to consider working with a professional but without question, looking to other amateurs, especially those that have found success themselves, is a great way to take your game to new heights.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.