Collin Morikawa, the rising star of professional golf, is once again making headlines with another caddie change. After just five tournaments together, Morikawa and his caddie Joe Greiner have decided to part ways. This decision comes as Morikawa prepares for the upcoming Rocket Classic at the Detroit Golf Club, where he will be joined by K.K. Limbhasut, a fellow Korn Ferry Tour player and Morikawa's former college teammate at the University of California, Berkeley.
The news of this caddie change was first reported by Golfweek and confirmed by Morikawa himself during a press conference in Detroit on Wednesday. Reflecting on his past experiences, Morikawa stated, “When I split with J.J. Jakovac, I had him except for one tournament my entire career and you get used to that.” He expressed gratitude towards Jakovac, acknowledging his skill and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Morikawa elaborated on the challenges of adapting to a new caddie, saying, “It’s a process for me to find because I only know one way.” He emphasized that just because two individuals excel in their respective roles, it doesn’t guarantee compatibility. “I think Joe is an amazing caddie, but I think just the way we kind of saw things or just day to day how we kind of went about it, we were just a little bit on a different page,” Morikawa explained. He clarified that this wasn’t a matter of right or wrong, but rather a personal mismatch.
Morikawa initially hired Greiner after parting ways with Jakovac following the RBC Heritage in late April. Greiner, who previously caddied for Max Homa, had filled in for Justin Thomas’ regular caddie, Matt Minister, at several tournaments, including the Harbour Town event where Thomas secured a victory. During their time together, Morikawa achieved three top-25 finishes, although his best result was a T-17 at the Truist Championship, which was their first tournament as a team.
Looking ahead, Morikawa has not yet identified a permanent caddie to join him after the Rocket Classic. “It’s a process that I’m going through,” he stated. “Hopefully we’ll find out when the time comes, and I will let everyone know.” This ongoing search reflects Morikawa's commitment to finding the right fit as he continues to compete at the highest levels of professional golf.
