Collin Morikawa Reveals Who He Thinks Is The World's Best Iron Player

At the Valspar Championship, the two-time Major winner revealed who he thinks is the best iron player in golf

Morikawa hits an iron
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Collin Morikawa is arguably the best iron player in the world right now, with the American topping the charts in a number of iron approach statistics. However, at the Valspar Championship, Morikawa himself revealed that there is one player who he believes is better than him in that department.

"To me, I still think Tiger has the best iron game," explained Morikawa at his press conference on Wednesday. "Like, even now. Like, I haven't seen him hit a ball for a while, but when we had our TaylorMade shoots, you would see him out there and I'd talk to him and we did a little 10-minute video of watching him hit irons, it is amazing."

Morikawa and Woods walk up to the green

Morikawa and Woods walk up the fairway

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The 25-year-old went on to add that Tiger: "Just hit every shot on command. I mean, it was, and I can go out with some buddies or go out in a pro-am like this and tell them, oh, I'm going to hit this shot, right? But you could tell that he knew exactly what he was going to do and he came out exactly in the same window and it was so simple.

"Like, we want to make it that simple, but sometimes, for me, cut shot comes easier than a draw. I'm working to hit that draw probably a little more than he's working to hit the draw. It was just so efficient. It was so easy. And that's how you want to make golf."

Woods fist bumps Charlie

Tiger made a return to golf at the 2021 PNC Championship following a serious car crash in February 2021

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Along with Tiger, Morikawa also praised Justin Thomas' iron game, with the original question from a reporter actually mentioning the fact that "Thomas and Morikawa are the two best iron players in golf right now."

"I mean, look, JT's iron game I've loved and I've admired," said Morikawa. "But do I think he's better? I mean, I still think when my iron game's on, like, it's better than everyone. It would be bad for me to think otherwise because then I'm showing up to these events thinking, okay, I've got to do everything so perfect. I still think I can play an okay game and still get away with it and possibly win."

If Morikawa were to win this week then he would actually jump to the top of the world rankings. However, Viktor Hovland could leapfrog Morikawa and current world number 1, Jon Rahm, into the top position if he were to win at the Valspar Championship this weekend.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.


Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.


Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x