Who Is Collin Morikawa's Coach?

Who coaches the young American?

Collin Morikawa's Coach
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Who Is Collin Morikawa's Coach?

Collin Morikawa was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up playing Chevy Chase Country Club just north of Glendale and Pasadena. At the age of 8 he started working with Rick Sessinghaus and the pair have continued to work together as the American has risen up the ranks of professional golf.

One of the earliest things they stressed as partnership was how to hit shots from different slopes because Chevy Chase Country Club has so many different slopes and lies to deal with. Morikawa once noted that this was incredibly important because it taught him how to control his shots especially with the irons. It therefore comes as no surprise that his iron-play is regarded as the strongest part of his game.

Additionally Sessinghaus often stresses the importance of learning from every single shot. Rather than look at whether a shot is good or bad, he wants to look at what can be learned from the shot instead.

“With Collin, at an early age, we were doing a lot of our lessons on the course," he said. "There’s a lot of great swings out there but not many golfers,” Sessinghaus told PGA Tour.com.

“He learned to play at a high level. Collin’s been wired that way; I’ve tried to cultivate it, raise his golf I.Q. by putting him in different situations. He’s going to look at a golf course and create a strategy based on his capabilities. He’s not going to overpower it but can plot his way around based on his strengths.”

Therefore because he is not as long as other players out on Tour, we regularly see his course management with his caddie JJ Jakovac as very solid too.

Another person Morikawa worked with during his time at the University of California, Berkeley was men's golf coach Walter Chun, who said of the American; "He taught me a lot about being a coach. He’s so driven; it’s part of what made him the player he was, and what makes him the player he is.”

He also worked with longtime Cal Golden Bear coach Steve Desimone who helped recruit Morikawa to the university. Desimone was at Berkley for 37 years and called Morikawa the easiest kid he has ever coached.

For more content on the American, take a look at Collin Morikawa's net worth and Morikawa's what's in the bag page.

Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is Golf Monthly's E-commerce Editor.

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This takes the form of buying guides, reviews, supporting gear content as well as creating deal content.

This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for, at a good price.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

Additionally Sam oversees Golf Monthly voucher/coupon content which seeks to find you the best offers and promotions from well-known brands like Callaway, TaylorMade and many more.


Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a single-figure handicap. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Cobra LTDxLS (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3/Cuater The Ringer
(For off the course he goes for Nike Jordan 1 Low G shoes as well)