Collin Morikawa Still Can't Hit One Shot and the US Open Is About to Get Wild

Alright, folks, buckle up because the US Open is already delivering some serious drama. Collin Morikawa, a guy who usually makes golf look easy, just dropped a sensational five-under 65 in round two, but get this, he's doing it with a nagging injury. We're talking about a guy who had to pull out of The Players Championship back in March after just *one hole* because of a problematic back. So when he rolls into the clubhouse at two-under overall, just five shots off the lead, you gotta wonder, what is this dude made of?

The Back Issues Are REAL, But So Is the Game

Morikawa has been battling this back issue for a minute, and while he's clearly making it work, he straight up admitted after day two that there's still one specific shot he just *cannot* hit at the US Open. Think about that for a second: a pro golfer, at one of the biggest tournaments, is playing with a hand tied behind his back, kinda. He said it himself at Shinnecock Hills, "Yeah, it's still a little uncomfortable." But he's been hitting it way better, calling last week "huge" for progress, even after taking some time off with the baby. He can't hit *every* shot he wants, specifically his go-to cut with an iron on a right-to-left wind, the one he knows how it's gonna spin. He "can't quite cut it as much" as he needs to. And forget about the "high bomb" off the tee. This dude is still out there cru

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shing it despite these limitations! It just shows the tools he's got in his bag, even if a few are on the disabled list.

Shinnecock Hills Is Playing Nasty, But Collin's Loving It

You know a course is tough when even the pros are talking about it like this. Morikawa noted that even with softer greens, the scores are still brutal. He called out the "fine margin" at Shinnecock Hills, where you've only got a small percentage of the green for pins. He's talking about how even a wedge shot on holes like 10 or 13 can turn from a potential birdie into a bogey real fast. You get rewarded for good shots, but bad ones? You're scrambling for par, man. But despite all that, Morikawa has fallen in love with the course, saying it's really "grown on him" throughout the week, especially with the weird winds they've been dealing with. It's a testament to his grit, navigating a tough course with a tricky back. He's been having a superb 2026 season with a win, three top fives, and five top 10s in nine of 11 appearances, finishing T29 most recently at the Canadian Open. But this US Open? It's looking like a whole different story. So, here we are, day two in the books. Morikawa is sitting strong, proving he's got the mental toughness to go with that silky swing, even when he's not 100%. The leaderboard is tight, and you just know this weekend is going to be electric. Can he keep defying the odds with a balky back? The Emerald City is watching, ready to see this thing unfold.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.