Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video series, in which we give you an inside look at golf’s biggest events through the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. Let’s go!
In tournament second rounds, where half of the event still remains, you have to focus on the “nitty gritty,” GOLF.com senior writer Sean Zak says. “Kind of nonsensical golf before the important stuff happens.”
Which led him and reporters to talk to Colin Morikawa after his play Friday at the Genesis Scottish Open — because Morikawa, with his ball up against the lip of a bunker at the Renaissance Club, had hit left-handed.
And Morikawa is a righty.
How Collin Morikawa’s strange club request paid off in Scotland
But there was more. Morikawa, it was discovered, had been giving the southpaw approach a go for a while. TaylorMade, his club sponsor, had even given him a lefty 8-iron. Morikawa had been curious.
“Everyone always talks about how much we swing one way,” he said to reporters. “I mean, literally, we all swing right-handed, or whatever way you swing. I was like, if I spend five minutes a day when I’m at home swinging left-handed, it can’t hurt. I’m not trying to be the best at it. I’m just trying to make contact. I’ve seen some decent ones. I’m not awful. I’m bad, but … ”
Asked Zak: “What have you learned about what it takes to do that?”
Answered Morikawa: “It’s complete motor skills. It’s just the complete opposite of what you think of. For me, it comes so natural to hit right-handed, obviously. And when you switch the other way, I have no idea where the clubface is. I don’t know what kind of swing I’m trying to produce. Honestly, I don’t think I bow [my wrist] at all, which is really weird. I don’t know if I should, or shouldn’t. But it’s just nice to get the body out of the way. Did it help on the shot? Maybe five percent.”
James Colgan, a news and features writer for GOLF.com was impressed.
“As a lefty,” he said. “I can appreciate that. As someone who’s also frequently ignored advice to do things for five minutes a day to improve my overall life, I also appreciate that.”
But this story is perhaps burying the lead:
The end of the latest installment of GOLF’s “Seen & Heard” is maybe the best. If you like pure joy, you’ll love this. You can watch the entire video by clicking here, or by scrolling to the top of this article.
And to catch up on all of the GOLF team’s activities in Scotland, check out the full playlist below — and stay tuned for more “Seen & Heard” throughout the week.
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