Collin Morikawa has ‘a lot to work on’ ahead of Dubai Desert Classic

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Open champion Collin Morikawa has hit the reset button on his game as he bids to get back to winning ways in Dubai

Morikawa could have become world number one for the first time with victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week, but only made the cut on the mark of three over par and eventually finished in a tie for 62nd.

The two-time major winner has since made the short journey to Emirates Golf Club and spent a long time on the practice range on Monday ahead of the £5.9million Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

“I have a lot to work on,” the American Ryder Cup star conceded. “Spent all Monday afternoon working.

“It was probably the hardest, longest I’ve worked in a while pre-tournament on a Monday but it’s good. Sometimes you need to have that kind of reset button and really figure out and dive deep.

“I had my agent and my caddie and we were just literally sitting on the range for hours trying to figure out what to do.

“We know what’s not working. It’s just trying to get back to my old swing and trying to get back to what I know I can do. I still have a couple of things I’ve got to work out and feel, but I’m in a much better position right now versus where I was last week.”

The windy conditions in Abu Dhabi no doubt contributed to Morikawa’s problems, with Rory McIlroy revealing after the final round that he felt he had not hit a full iron shot for several days.

“It doesn’t help,” Morikawa added. “I heard Phil (Mickelson) talk about starting the year in Hawaii, you always prepare for really windy (conditions) and you’re going to be off-balance and I know the past couple of years when I played out there, you almost have to come back home and reset.

“This year wasn’t windy in Hawaii, so I felt fine. Come out here, blowing in Abu Dhabi last week, and sometimes you just have to find the centre (of the clubface) again.

“It happens. Thankfully I was still able to learn a lot from it and show up this week with a fresh mind and ready to go.”