Collin Morikawa points to the PGA Tour rival with the putting skills he most envies

Sam Burns, who is also part of the American Ryder Cup team, will be taking part in this week’s tournament as well.

Before play got underway, Morikawa was asked about what makes Burns such a strong putter and gave a candid assessment.

“I haven’t tapped into his head too much. I’ve loved when I’ve played with him, partnered up because I just try and hit it on the green and he makes them all.

“I listened to Scottie [Scheffler] talk about him one time or someone talked about him. I think he just does all the basics really good.

“I’ve played a lot at home this past week… not a lot but a handful of times with Taylor Montgomery and Maverick McNealy, two of the best putters on tour as well, and you ask them and they’re very different on how they approach putting, but what they do is they’re always just very confident and very assertive with how they pick their lines and believing that it’s right.

“Like sometimes I’ll step in a fairway and it could be the most obvious 8-iron and I’ll feel 7-iron or I’ll feel 9-iron.

“Like it’s that gut feeling that I think really good putters have in saying no, this is going in. So I think it just takes it over time, but yeah.”

When Morikawa was asked if he envied any other player’s particular skill, he responded: “Yeah, I wish I could putt like Sam Burns all the time or drive it like really long.

“But sometimes you have to remember who you are and kind of play your game, and that doesn’t mean that you can’t creep your way towards those players.

“And that’s what’s great about these team events, you really get to tap into a lot of brains and a lot of smart guys on how they do things.

“Sometimes it’s just one little conversation can spark something. That’s why I’m always trying to learn, I’m always trying to ask other players.

“Not necessarily during a week like this but at home, off weeks, team events, you really get to tap into the knowledge that people have.

“And side story, I remember at Whistling I had six, like two vice captains and like four players watching my putting.

“[Steve] Stricker was a little bit worried, but I tell him like no, it’s just the more knowledge the better because that makes you a more well-rounded player in just how you see things.”

PGA Tour putting stats for Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns in 2025

Morikawa’s praise of Burns’ putting is not unfounded, with the 29-year-old golfer standing out on the greens this season.

Burns tops the PGA Tour in both SG: Putting (0.924) and Putting inside 10 feet (90.79%).

Morikawa, by comparison, is well behind his Ryder Cup teammate in that area, currently sitting 141st in SG: Putting.

However, it is not just Burns catching attention. Harry Hall has been equally impressive, leading the tour in Putting Average, Total Putting and Putts Per Round.