The 2022 DP World Tour Championship will begin on November 17, Thursday. It is considered the most prestigious event on the European Tour as it is the season-end tournament. Many top players will be part of the Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course field. However, Collin Morikawa, the 2021 champion, wouldn’t be there to defend his title.
“I was looking forward to returning to Dubai to defend my @dpwtc,” the 25-year-old wrote on his Twitter feed. “But I, unfortunately, will not make it back due to some upcoming personal commitments. Last year was such a special moment in my career,” his tweet further read. “And I look forward to getting back there in the future.”
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Notably, Morikawa won the event in 2021 with a 3-shot lead against Alexander Björk and Matt Fitzpatrick. Notably, it was his third win on the season. And he showcased how good of a golfer he is by scoring an impressive 68-68-69-66 in all four rounds.
Fans supported Collin Morikawa for deciding not to attend the season-end event
As the defending champion of the DPWTC, everybody wanted Morikawa to play this week. However, the two-time major winner wouldn’t be able to join Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm, and others in Dubai.
Read more: WATCH: Every Hole-in-One Recorded on the PGA Tour’s Mayakoba Event
The fans of the 5-time PGA Tour champion were heartbroken when the golfer posted the news on social media. However, they soon realized how important the personal event would be for him to withdraw from a prestigious event like DPWTC.
We hope everything is okay! Looking forward to seeing you back in action!
— Golf Injury Report 'G.I.R.' (@InjuryReportPGA) November 14, 2022
Have wonderful weeding and congratulations 🎉
— Fatiha Sahnoune & Bernie McGuire (@TOURMISS) November 14, 2022
Hope all is well king 👑
— Otta Sluggasson (@Sluggasson35) November 14, 2022
I would like to think it's the impending nuptials to Katherine that is keeping you from competing as it should be.
You're a lucky man and you know that.— RonB1019 (@B1019Ron) November 14, 2022
See you soon, champ 🏆
— DP World Tour Championship (@dpwtc) November 14, 2022
Like getting married?
— The Frimm Fram (@thefrimmfram) November 14, 2022
A nice guy just for taking the time to care.
— Morley Weinberg (@WeinbergMorley) November 14, 2022
I hope it is nothing serious keeping you from defending your championship. My wife and I really enjoy watching you do your thing. I see many trips to the winner’s circle in your future. Watched your finish this past weekend and to see your Wife & Son was pure Golden. Grats Sir.
— Scott Jones (@ScottJo75230922) November 14, 2022
👍 Good luck on PGA in 2023
— Ken M. (@_mdusk) November 15, 2022
Mostly, everyone supported Morikawa’s decision not to play in Dubai. They wished him the best. Some fans even guessed he could be taking a break to get married.
Is the 2021 DPWTC champion getting married?
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Withdrawing from the event to get married was a guess his fans took. However, there is a possibility that it might be true. Collin Morikawa has been recently engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Katherine Zhu.
The golfer proposed to his five-year-long girlfriend in November last year, which he revealed through a social media post. Notably, another Instagram post of him, which he posted on their fifth anniversary, hinted that the couple will tie the knot by the end of 2022 or early 2023.
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Since Morikawa didn’t state his reason for withdrawing from the DPWTC, fans are guessing what that personal event could be. Do you think he is taking a break to get married too?
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