Caddie swaps for the fifth time for Collin Morikawa during the FedEx St. Jude Championship
Collin Morikawa, the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship winner, has been going through a series of caddie changes this year, following a split with long-time looper JJ Jakovac in April.
The partnership between Morikawa and Jakovac, which claimed two Majors since 2019, had not yielded any wins since the 2023 Zozo Championship. Morikawa described the split as a result of feeling "on a different page" and that it "didn't feel right," indicating a breakdown in communication or chemistry.
Since the split, Morikawa has cycled through several caddies, including Joe Greiner (previously Max Homa's caddie), Billy Foster (Matthew Fitzpatrick's former caddie), and KK Limbhasut (his former college teammate) in short stints. However, these arrangements have not produced a stable or particularly successful outcome, with finishes ranging mostly outside the top 15 and some missed cuts.
Morikawa started 2025 strongly with two runner-up finishes early in the season but saw his form dip thereafter. After the break with Jakovac, his results included a tied 8th at the Rocket Classic, followed by lower finishes such as T17, T20, and T23. His most recent finishes around August 2025 include a T22 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
The frequent caddie changes and lack of a settled partnership have been seen as a potential factor in Morikawa's struggles to regain top form. Analysts note that effective caddie-player chemistry requires time, communication, and trust.
Meanwhile, US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick also parted ways with long-time looper Billy Foster. Max Homa split with Joe Greiner, and it's unclear why Mark Urbanek and Tony Finau parted ways. Finau has struggled this season, with just one top 10 in 19 starts.
In a surprising turn of events, Morikaw will be working with Mark Urbanek, who previously worked with Tony Finau. Urbanek's role with Morikawa is not clear, but he may be on the bag full-time. Finau is reportedly set to have veteran caddie, Tim Tucker, on the bag at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Morikawa's struggles have been evident in his recent performances. He missed the cut in both the Scottish Open and The Open, finishing well back of the cutline in both tournaments. However, he and KK Limbhasut finished in a share of eighth at the Rocket Classic.
Despite the struggles, Morikaw is 19th in the FedEx Cup standings, which should guarantee him a spot in the BMW Championship next week. He has registered three top 10s in the current season.
Morikawa will be hoping to find stability and regain his winning form as he heads into the BMW Championship, aiming to secure a spot in the Tour Championship and defend his title as one of golf's top players.
Collin Morikawa, looking to regain his winning form, has decided to work with Mark Urbanek, previously Tony Finau's caddie, in a bid to establish a stable partnership and improve his golf game, particularly after a series of challenges with previous caddies such as golf tournaments with finishes outside the top 15 or missed cuts. Moreover, with Matt Fitzpatrick also parting ways with long-time looper Billy Foster, it remains to be seen how these changes in caddie partnerships will influence their performance and potential success in 'sports', focusing on their upcoming games in golf tournaments.
