Collin Morikawa storms to third at Travelers Championship after nine-shot rally

Collin Morikawa erased a nine-shot deficit to finish third at the 2026 Travelers Championship on 16 June, delivering his strongest showing since the Masters.

What happened?

Morikawa started the final round six under par, nine shots behind overnight leader Akshay Bhatia. But a blistering back nine-including three birdies in four holes-pulled him into contention. His 65 (-5) in the final round was the best of the day among the leaders.

Why it matters for Collin Morikawa

This third-place finish is Morikawa’s best result in six starts this season. It moves him to 12th in the FedEx Cup standings, keeping his playoff hopes alive. His charge also underlines his ability to grind out rounds when his ball-striking isn’t perfect.

How the leaders fared

Akshay Bhatia held on for his first PGA Tour win, finishing at 17 under. Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland carded a 68 to finish second, one shot back. Morikawa’s surge pushed him past Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth on the leaderboard.

What comes next?

Morikawa heads to the Canadian Open next week in search of his first win since the 2023 Open Championship. A strong showing there would further bolster his case for a FedEx Cup playoff spot.