Collin Morikawa is a two-time major champion at age 24.
The American closed with a bogey-free, 4-under 66 and won the British Open in his debut Sunday, becoming the first player to capture two different majors on the first attempt.
His victory 11 months ago on his PGA Championship debut came in the first major with no spectators amid the pandemic.
After tapping in for par to win by two shots over Jordan Spieth, he gave a fist pump before applauding the spectators in the huge grandstand around the 18th green, part of a crowd of 32,000 people that made for the biggest gallery in golf since before the coronavirus pandemic.
His total of 15-under 265 was a 72-hole record in 15 British Opens at Royal St. George’s.
Starting the final round one shot behind Louis Oosthuizen, Morikawa was tied for the lead after four holes and then made three straight birdies on Nos. 7-9 to overtake the South African, who hadn’t trailed since the 12th hole of his second round.
Morikawa made key par saves – pumping his fist both times – at Nos. 10 and 15, between which he rolled a birdie putt up and over a ridge and into the cup on the 14th to build a two-stroke lead he never lost.
Oosthuizen tied for third with U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm (66) after closing with a 71 – his first round not in the 60s this week. He never recovered from losing his lead with an ugly bogey on the par-5 seventh hole.