While the spotlight is now shining on recent PGA Champ Collin Morikawa, some are focusing their attention on his 24-year-old girlfriend, Katherine Zhu, who has always displayed pride in her boyfriend’s achievement over the past few months.
Zhu, who attended Pepperdine University in California, joined the 23-year-old professional golfer in celebrating the victory after winning the US PGA Championship on Sunday at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, according to New York Post. The couple posed together beside the Wanamaker Trophy.
Zhu and Morikawa, who attended UC Berkeley, met through college golf.
Although she’s now only an avid fan of the sport, Zhu was a remarkable player during her college days. She had a career score average of 76.54 and had earned multiple WGCA All-American honors, Golf.com reported. For context, PGA Tour men’s average scores fall into the high sixties where a lower score is better.
Zhu, a Vancouver, British Columbia native, studied high school at Zhuji Hailiang Private High School before she went to California to attend Pepperdine University.
“Golf is such a big part of my life. It’s taught me to be strong when things aren’t going well. It’s taught me to respect others around me,” Zhu said via Yahoo Australia. “Most importantly, golf has created opportunities that have made lifelong memories that I’ll cherish forever. I’m so grateful for this amazing game.”
In an interview earlier this year, Morikawa shared that Zhu most likely beats him in around 70% of their chipping competitions between each other.
“I think that’s what’s great about her is that we’re always competing,” he said. “I think the PGA Tour is awesome like that. To have her around when we’re in the off weeks, and no one is around. She can always bring a wedge to the course, and we can always do something fun.”
Morikawa attributed his wins to his girlfriend, helping him during and outside of his gold mindset she can also relate to. She also caddies for him, reported the New York Post.
“I didn’t start winning in college until she showed up in my life, so thanks Kat,” he said, reported Golf Digest. “Whenever she’s there, it always just gets me away from golf. She knows how I’m feeling after golf, like you said, she’s played collegiately, she knows golf can take a toll on you, whether it’s a good or bad day.”
