Collin Morikawa: Open champion sets demanding targets for 2022

Collin Morikawa has set demanding targets for 2022, including defending the Claret Jug at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July.

The American, 24, won The Open on his debut, as he did when winning his other major, the 2020 US PGA Championship.

And as he prepares to begin the defence of his Race to Dubai crown on the DP World Tour, he told BBC Sport: «All I'm focused on is the goals.

»How do I win this week? How do I defend The Open? How do I win majors?"

It is the continuation of a mindset that has brought the Californian four other victories on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) since turning professional in 2019.

Morikawa is in the Middle East for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which begins on Thursday.

«When I look back at my career, many years down the road hopefully, I'm not going to look back at what other people thought of me or what people said,» he added.

«If I think I did a great job of what I set my goals to, I'll be happy. But knowing me, I'm always going to want more.»

Morikawa made history with his first Race to Dubai crown last November and is now back in the Middle East looking to enhance further his reputation as a global golfing superstar.

«Being the first American to achieve this feat, it's special,» he said. «It means a lot. The history of American golf goes back a long time.

»There's been a lot of great players, but to actually be the first one to do it and solidify your name, it's great.

«I've said it since day one, I want to be a world player and hopefully I've proved that and I just want to continue that. How do I keep winning in new places, new tournaments, same tournaments and just keep winning?»

Only Spain's Jon Rahm is placed higher than Morikawa in the world rankings