Vowing a return to Asia following the rescheduling of last year’s tournament, the PGA Tour is back in Japan for the ZOZO Championship. Due to COVID concerns the event was moved to Southern California last year with Patrick Cantlay emerging as the winner. Cantlay isn’t in the field this week and neither is 2019 champ Tiger Woods, so we will have a third different titlist in the tournament’s brief history. Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele opened as co-betting favorites with Japan’s own Hideki Matsuyama slotted third on the odds board. With the tournament co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organization there will be as many as 13 members of the JGTO pegging it up at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. And similar to last week a limited field will play a no-cut event. Be sure to visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Odds to Win ZOZO Championship
Collin Morikawa +700
Xander Schauffele +700
Hideki Matsuyama +1600
Paul Casey +1600
Will Zalatoris +1800
Tommy Fleetwood +2200
Joaquin Niemann +2500
Rickie Fowler +2500
Si Woo Kim +3000
Cameron Tringale +3300
C.T. Pan +3300
Alex Noren +4000
Emiliano Grillo +4000
Erik van Rooyen +4000
Jhonattan Vegas +4000
Keegan Bradley +4000
Maverick McNealy +4000
Carlos Ortiz +4000
Charley Hoffman +5000
Kyoung-Hoon Lee +5000
Lanto Griffin +5000
Adam Schenk +5000
Matt Wallace +5500
Ryan Palmer +5500
Branden Grace +6000
Chris Kirk +6000
Luke List +6000
MacKenzie Hughes +6000
Takumi Kanaya +6000
Harry Higgs +6000
Doug Ghim +7000
Henrik Norlander +7000
Sebastian Munoz +7000
Garrick Higgo +7000
Odds Analysis
Keegan Bradley +4000
Previous experience on a course that’s seldom been used on Tour is a plus and Bradley’s T13 here two years ago stands out, especially since he set a course record with a 63 that week. He’s been kind of hit and miss over the last year with four top-10s and nine MC’s in 29 starts since the beginning of last season. But he did show some fight last week with 24 birdies at The Summit Club. There are only about 20 golfers who competed here in 2019 and the watered down field gives players further down the odds board a chance.
Rickie Fowler +2500
It’s hard to imagine a guy like Fowler feeling the pressure in a tournament, but with a long run of frustrating finishes piling up maybe he gripped the sticks a little tighter last week. He had the 54-hole lead at the CJ CUP only to fade to T3 with a closing 71. He did top the field in total driving, GIR and strokes gained: tee to green showing that his game is emerging. And maybe getting out of the U.S. will be what he needs to visit the winner’s circle again.
Harry Higgs +6000
Precision will be a plus at Accordia and Higgs has been one of the best in that area. His short game and putting were on display at The Summit Club with Higgs scoring 20-under for a share of ninth. He’s improved in every start this season earning three top-15s in his last six outings. And his game appears to be well suited for the Accordia layout.
Xander Schauffele +700
I don’t often back the favorite but how can you not like Schauffele in his return to Japan. Just a few months ago the X-man was capturing gold at the Tokyo Olympics and has a strong feeling of inclusion in Japan. He earned a top-10 at the 2019 ZOZO to complement his gold and he has relatives in the country. The whirlwind last few months also include a Ryder Cup win and a closing 63 in the CJ CUP for a top-20 finish.
Jhonattan Vegas +4000
Always in search of value it’s smart to venture further down the odds board in a field like this with no-cut. It’s not easy to bounce back from a slow start but having all four rounds to get the chance certainly helps. Vegas has been consistently solid from about the middle of last season with a couple of runner-up finishes to show for it. His tee-to-green game is functioning at a high level with a pair of 66s at The Summit Club getting him a T14.
Course: Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club – 7,041 yards, Par 70
The field will attack the Championship Course at the club, which is one of two on the property. At just over 7,000 yards it’s small by Tour standards, but it isn’t your typical par 70 with three par-5s and five par-3s. Going long off the tee could be hazardous with tight, tree-lined fairways and plenty of doglegs to work around. It’s a strategy that will work as long as the drives are on target. Otherwise we’re likely to see more precise shots with the field clubbing down. There aren’t many obstacles outside water on a few holes and overhanging trees. A conservative approach won’t penalize players since the layout isn’t easily overpowered. Woods won the inaugural event on this track at 19-under proving an all-around game is the best way to go.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel
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