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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

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

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