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There weren’t any extra apparent decisions for the person to tee off the 2024 Sentry at Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui than Collin Morikawa given his connection to the place and other people.
Because the PGA Tour returns to Maui it does so conscious that the island and its inhabitants are nonetheless therapeutic from devastating wildfires.
Morikawa was struck by the poignance of the second as he took within the sounds of the Sentry opening ceremony from the driving vary.
The ceremony featured blessings and chants that commemorate the brand new yr and sign the beginning of regrowth, renewal and rebirth fairly fittingly contemplating what has transpired.
Morikawa’s household as soon as owned a restaurant in close by Lahaina and he nonetheless feels a deep connection.
“I do know what everybody has gone by way of, you hear it from these households, and also you meet everybody out right here on the island that is aware of somebody or has been affected firsthand,” Morikawa instructed PGA TOUR media.
“Maui’s small. Hawaii’s very, very small. Individuals know everybody. Simply received emotional. With the ability to hit that first tee shot, it was an honour simply to have the ability to do this, and it’s a good way to kick off the brand new yr.”
Meals for Maui ❤️
This week, @Collin_Morikawa visited Hua Momona Farms to assist put together packing containers for the neighborhood.
With Lahaina on his thoughts, Collin is prepared for the week @TheSentry. pic.twitter.com/nVJi8liMK4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 4, 2024
He famous that Kapalua is an effective course for him to play given that’s has fairly forgiving fairways and good gamers can typically get well fairly effectively from a foul shot.
“You’re going to hit dangerous pictures,” Morikawa mentioned, “but when I can have that freedom in my head that I can swing as laborious as I need and as cleanly as I need and never fear the place the ball’s going to go that’s all I can ask for.”
In 4 appearances at The Sentry, he has positioned no worse than seventh, together with a runner-up consequence final yr after carrying a six-shot lead into the ultimate spherical.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua delivers a one-of-a-kind problem not discovered wherever else on the PGA TOUR. Due to the excessive winds that incessantly buffet this mountainous course, it was designed with broad fairways and spacious greens, however its defining function is the steep slopes that compel gamers to hit pictures they gained’t see wherever else. And Thursday’s opening tee shot was in contrast to another for Morikawa.
“That was as massive of an honor as I may have had,” Morikawa mentioned. ”Not as a result of it was the primary match of the yr, however as a result of it was out right here in Maui, all the pieces that this week represents for me. It simply means that rather more.”
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