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Collin Morikawa and wife Katherine Zhu

Collin Morikawa has become one of the PGA Tour’s most recognizable stars over the last several years, winning multiple major championships and representing Team USA in events such as the Ryder Cup. Throughout that rise, his wife, Katherine Zhu, has remained one of the most constant figures in his life.

Morikawa has frequently spoken about the impact Zhu has had on his career. During an interview with Golf Central in 2020, Morikawa joked, “Kat has been by my side through it all. She would hate me if I didn’t say this, but I didn’t start winning in college until she showed up in my life, so thanks Kat.”

As Morikawa continues competing in golf’s biggest events, including the PGA Championship, Zhu has built her own identity as a former collegiate golfer and marathon runner, and as a longtime supporter of the two-time major champion.

Katherine Zhu Played Collegiate Golf at Pepperdine University

Katherine Zhu was born in Vancouver, Canada, before spending part of her childhood and high school years in China. She attended Zhuji Hailiang Private High School before later moving to California for college.

Zhu studied international management at Pepperdine University while competing on the school’s women’s golf team. During her college career, she earned recognition both for academics and athletics.

Speaking to Pepperdine’s “Competing with Purpose” blog, Zhu explained how her international upbringing shaped her outlook.

“I know more about different cultures,” Zhu said. “That’s really helped me to play golf, because I meet different people when playing in tournaments.”

She added: “It provided me a broader perspective of the world, and I got to understand more about the sport, people and my teammates better.”

Golf remained central to Zhu’s life during college and beyond. In a 2019 Instagram post, she wrote: “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 also comes from an athletic family background. Her father, Mike Chu, was a champion tennis player and graduated from Beijing Sport University, while her mother competed in track and field.

“My mom ran track, and my dad played soccer,” Zhu said in the Pepperdine interview. “When I was little, they would just sign me up for different sports.”

Collin Morikawa and Katherine Zhu Started Dating in 2017

GettyCollin Morikawa of the United States and Katherine Zhu

Morikawa and Zhu met in college through golf. Morikawa played at the University of California, Berkeley, while Zhu represented Pepperdine.

The couple began dating in 2017 and stayed together as Morikawa transitioned from amateur golf into one of the PGA Tour’s fastest-rising stars.

Morikawa proposed to Zhu in 2021 while the couple was vacationing in the Bahamas. They officially married in November 2022 in Los Angeles.

Speaking to People after the wedding, Morikawa said, “We found each other by chance, but we chose to share our lives and dreams together.”

He added, “Marriage means to be in love with each other for the rest of our lives.”

Zhu has become a familiar face alongside Morikawa at major championships, Ryder Cups, and PGA Tour events. Morikawa has repeatedly credited her support as an important factor in helping him manage the pressures of professional golf.

Katherine Zhu and Collin Morikawa Are Expecting Their First Child

GettyCollin Morikawa of the United States hugs his wife Katherine Zhu

In February 2026, Morikawa announced that the couple is expecting their first child later this spring.

The announcement came moments after Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, ending a nearly three-year PGA Tour winless streak.

During his post-round interview with CBS’s Amanda Balionis, Morikawa shared the news publicly for the first time.

“Put golf aside, we’re actually expecting later this year, in a few months,” Morikawa said. “We just started telling people this week, and we said what a better way and the best way to announce it to the world, if I was able to come out and win.”

Morikawa later revealed the baby is expected to arrive in May 2026.

After holing the winning putt at Pebble Beach, Morikawa embraced Zhu on the 18th green as cameras captured the emotional moment.

“There’s so much to life, there’s so much to enjoy,” Morikawa said. “I’m hard on myself like I talked about yesterday but I’m just so thankful for the people around me, my team, Kat my wife, my parents, my brother.”

Katherine Zhu Has Continued Her Own Athletic Career

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While Zhu often travels with Morikawa during PGA Tour events, she has also developed a strong passion for distance running.

Over the last several years, she has completed multiple half marathons and full marathons, including the New York City Marathon.

Following the race in 2024, Zhu thanked Morikawa in an Instagram post, writing: “Your constant encouragement kept me going and your belief in me helped me believe in myself.”

The couple also shares a goldendoodle named Koa, who has become popular on social media and even has his own Instagram account.

Now entering a new chapter with their first child on the way, Morikawa and Zhu continue to balance life on the PGA Tour with family life away from the course.