‘It Wasn’t an Easy Talk’: Collin Morikawa Breaks Silence After His Sudden Break Up With Caddie of 6 Years

“I wasn’t totally sold that this actually did happen because it’s just, it’s so shocking to me,” said Colt Knost, after confirming that Collin Morikawa and his longtime caddie, J.J. Jakovac, have parted ways after six years of partnership. This significant change comes as a surprise to many, given the success Morikawa and Jakovac achieved together, including two major championships and six PGA Tour wins, with Morikawa reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world. Jakovac, who caddied for Morikawa since he turned pro, brought impressive golf credentials to the partnership, including three-time All-American honors at Chico State and two NCAA Division II individual national titles.

And now Morikawa is telling his side of the story. “It wasn’t an easy talk,” Morikawa said, expressing gratitude for Jakovac’s contributions to his career. Morikawa explained that the decision to switch caddies was driven by a feeling that things weren’t quite right on the course, but also emphasized that his decision to part ways with J.J. Jakovac didn’t diminish their achievements over the past six years. Jakovac had been by his side since the start of his professional career, missing only one tournament for the birth of his second child. “So I just wanna first thank him because, like I said, you can’t take away any of that. Like what we accomplished, our relationship, our friendship, like that just doesn’t go away because of what has just happened”, he said.

Despite contending in tournaments and starting the year strong, Morikawa felt a change was needed. “Sometimes things just aren’t feeling right,” he said. “And I think when people look at it from the macro perspective of, ‘Okay, Collin’s playing great. He’s contending. He’s trying to close out tournaments.’ And even at the beginning of the year, everything looked very, very good. Sometimes on the golf course, things just don’t feel right.” Morikawa is still searching for his first win of 2025 and his first victory since the 2023 Zozo Championship.

Morikawa is high on Greiner, who recently caddied for Justin Thomas at The Masters and the RBC Heritage, where Thomas won his first tournament since the 2022 PGA Championship. “For me, what I’ve seen with Joe, Joe is just someone that wants to continue to learn, continue to get better,” Morikawa said.

Collin Morikawa explains his decision to split with longtime caddie J.J. Jakovac and hire Joe Greiner.

Collin’s full interview will air during Monday’s episode of Dan on Golf at 1 p.m. ET. pic.twitter.com/pAiLeHo9Sc

— Dan on Golf (@DanOnGolfShow) May 1, 2025

Morikawa hopes the new partnership will bring positive changes and help him secure his next win. With Greiner by his side, Morikawa will look to bounce back and improve his form in the upcoming tournaments.

Everything you need to know about Joe Greiner

Joe Greiner, Collin Morikawa’s newly hired caddie, has a wealth of experience in the golf world. Greiner previously worked with Max Homa, a childhood friend, and helped him secure six titles during their partnership. However, after a drought in wins, Homa and Greiner parted ways, and the caddie went on to work with Justin Thomas temporarily, including at the Masters Tournament and the RBC Heritage in 2025, where Thomas secured a win. Greiner’s background in golf is notable, having played at the College of the Canyons with aspirations to become a professional golfer himself before realizing his strength lay in advising rather than playing.

Greiner’s career as a caddie also includes a stint with Kevin Chappell, with whom he shared an emotional win at the 2017 Valero Texas Open, Chappell’s first and only PGA Tour title. Greiner’s history with Chappell began after a tough defeat to Rory McIlroy in the TOUR Championship the previous year. With his experience and track record, Greiner brings a fresh perspective to Morikawa’s game, potentially helping him break his title drought. So, do you think Morikawa can snatch a win with the new caddie change? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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