Scottie Scheffler started his 2025 season late with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am because of a wrist injury. While he did finish with a T9 at the event, we all know he’s got a lot more in his kitty. The World No. 1 displayed his inconsistent form at the WM Phoenix Open (T25), and he almost made a comeback at the Genesis Invitational (T3). But it’s the same route, with three rounds of 70 at the Bay Hill. While he remains tied to T13 on the leaderboard, one golfer looks motivated – enter Collin Morikawa.

Notably, Morikawa is back in the mix for his first PGA Tour win since 2023 after an impressive second-round performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Shane Lowry, who held the lead at the halfway point, slipped six shots behind after a tough third round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Starting the day with a two-shot advantage, Lowry struggled through a challenging round of 76 at Bay Hill, leaving him at four under par. Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion, played a brilliant round of 67 to take the lead, sitting at 10 under par, one stroke ahead of American Russell Henley. Impressive from Collin, right?

At 28, Morikawa ranked fifth globally and has already won six PGA Tour titles, including two major championships. However, he is still looking for his first victory since claiming the 2023 Zozo Championship. The talented player remains poised to make a run for the title with a convincing performance so far.

When asked about his performance at the post-round presser, he said, “It’s been a while since I’ve hit my irons like this, it honestly has. Just start lines, amount of cut, we’re looking back to 2021, essentially.”

In his last four appearances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Collin Morikawa has averaged a score of 2-over par, with an average finish of 37th place. In 2024, he missed the cut after posting a 6-over score. “I think I’ve missed the cut the past two years. I’ve kind of come to this event not playing great previously, and it’s a course that if you’re not playing great, it’s going to show. It’s just one of those that you can’t fake it. But this was one of my first professional starts as an amateur. I played in 2017, and I love the golf course,” he added.

Morikawa did not start very well. He posted a 71 in the opening round. Gradually, he went for a 68 on Friday and then a 67 on Saturday. It automatically brought him to the top.

“I thought it was great, played well, made the cut. I thought I would play well out here. Hasn’t been the case. But it also hasn’t been the case that I’ve come feeling ready and needing the game. On a course like this, you just have to have complete control of your golf ball, so that’s what it’s going to take tomorrow,” said Morikawa.

Moreover, Scottie Scheffler looks to get it going this season. Yet, the number of injuries made his start to 2025 a little dull. He just played in 3 events so far, and compared to 2024, it’s a shoddy start. Last year, Scheffler won 7 events, had 2 runner-ups, and earned around $29,228,357. So, he’s got his work cut out for him right now!

On the other hand, Collin Morikawa’s been on fire, but Bay Hill has not failed to put up a challenging fight. He has indeed lived up to its name this season as well.

Collin Morikawa’s initial confessions about Bay Hill after Scottie Scheffler’s inconsistent form

After his second-round performance, Collin Morikawa shared his thoughts on the Bay Hill course. The world No. 5 said, “I wouldn’t want to play it every week, but I do like these difficult golf courses because they challenge you.” 

For some, Bay Hill ranks in the top 10 hardest golf courses to play on. Its challenging layout features tight fairways, water hazards, and thick rough, making it a puzzle for most golfers. So yes, there’s some truth to it, and Scottie Scheffler may agree.

He explained that courses like Bay Hill are rewarding when you completely control your game. However, a golfer’s game can spiral downwards if it goes out of hand. “They’re obviously great to play when you’re in control of your golf ball. It sucks when you’re not,” he added. It’s almost the same for most golf courses, but Bay Hill tends to test your patience.

Morikawa also compared Bay Hill to major championships and The Players, saying, “You just have to be on, and you can’t go into it assuming it’s going to be easy and you’re just going to cruise through.”

He made it clear there’s no room for complacency, noting, “There’s no cruising this week; it’s only going to get tougher, so we just got to be ready for that.”

As Morikawa looks ahead to the weekend, he knows the challenge at Bay Hill will only intensify. Do you think he will finally be able to grab a win on Sunday after 2023? Can he slowly dethrone Scottie Scheffler on top? Stay tuned to find out!