Collin Morikawa Seeks Round 2 Comeback at British Open

Collin Morikawa's Round 1 performance at the 2026 British Open has left him trailing, but his impressive strokes-gained approach suggests he may be in peak form.

What happened?

Morikawa led the field in strokes-gained approach in Round 1, a promising sign for his chances in the second round. However, he now finds himself trailing behind his competitors.

Why it matters for Collin Morikawa

If Morikawa can maintain his strong iron play, he could make a significant comeback in the second round. His ability to gain strokes on the field with his approach shots will be crucial in his bid to climb the leaderboard.

What comes next?

Morikawa's Round 2 score will be crucial in determining his chances of making a comeback. He will need to post a strong score to close the gap with his competitors. Iain MacMillan's analysis suggests that Morikawa's strong iron play could be the key to his success in the second round.

Morikawa's Round 1 performance was marked by his impressive strokes-gained approach, which saw him gain +5.73 strokes on the field. However, he lost 1.29 strokes on the greens, which may have cost him a better position on the leaderboard. Despite this, Morikawa's strong iron play suggests that he may be in peak form, and he could make a significant comeback in the second round.

Ben Griffin's Round 2 score UNDER 70.5 (-110) is another key pick for Iain MacMillan. Griffin gained +5.26 strokes on the field with his play from tee-to-green on Thursday, but lost 2.82 strokes on the greens. If he can keep his ball-striking going on Friday while getting a better day from his putter, he may post a score in the second round.

Bryson DeChambeau's End of Round 2 Leader (+1250) is another key pick for Iain MacMillan. DeChambeau was the punching bag for pundits all week, but he responded by coming out and shooting three-under par while leading the field in strokes-gained tee to green at +5.73. If his ball-striking continues to be dialed in on Friday and he gets some more luck on the greens, he may head into the weekend as the leader of the British Open.

The action begins at 1:30 a.m. ET, so if you want to place a few second-round bets, get them locked in as soon as possible. Iain MacMillan's analysis suggests that Morikawa's strong iron play could be the key to his success in the second round, and he may make a significant comeback.

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You can check out all of Iain's bets here! Originally from Nova Scotia, Iain MacMillan is a senior editor covering betting, with a focus on NFL, NHL, and golf. He hosts the Bacon Bets Podcast and has been featured on VSIN, BetQL, and Monumental Sports Network. He is a member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association and his beloved Falcons and Maple Leafs break his heart on a yearly basis.

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