Big name players have dominated the brief history of the ZOZO Championship and a number of them are back in action following the Ryder Cup hiatus. The last PGA Tour victory for Tiger Woods was in the inaugural playing of this event in 2019 with former FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay hoisting the hardware a year later. In 2021 Japan’s greatest golfer Hideki Matsuyama cruised to an easy victory when the event returned to his native land following a COVID-induced relocation. Defending champ Keegan Bradley ended a lengthy title drought with his victory last year. For the second year in a row Xander Schauffele was installed as the early outright favorite with Collin Morikawa, Sungjae Im and Rickie Fowler all positioned near the top of the odds board. The field is limited to 78 golfers with a number of Japan’s best competing with the event co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organization. Be sure to visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
ZOZO Championship Matchup Odds
Cameron Davis -110 vs. Sahith Theegala -110
Keegan Bradley -110 vs. Sahith Theegala -110
Adam Scott -129 vs. Adam Svensson +108
Xander Schauffele -165 vs. Collin Morikawa +137
Xander Schauffele -200 vs. Hideki Matsuyama +165
Collin Morikawa -147 vs. Hideki Matsuyama +122
Rickie Fowler +100 vs. Sungjae Im -120
Rickie Fowler -115 vs. Min Woo Lee -105
Sungjae Im -120 vs. Min Woo Lee +100
Cameron Davis -110 vs. Keegan Bradley -110
Adam Scott -132 vs. Adam Schenk +110
Adam Svensson -110 vs. Adam Schenk -110
Eric Cole -125 vs. Nicolai Hojgaard +105
Thomas Detry -127 vs. Emiliano Grillo +106
Beau Hossler -134 vs. Aaron Rai +112
JJ Spaun -105 vs. Vincent Norrman -115
S.H. Kim +100 vs. K.H. Lee -120
Tom Hoge +122 vs. Alex Noren -147
Keith Mitchell -138 vs. Justin Suh +115
Callum Tarren -115 vs. Matt Wallace -105
Sam Ryder +108 vs. Lee Hodges -129
Garrick Higgo -115 vs. Taylor Moore -105
Taylor Montgomery +110 vs. Cameron Champ -132
Takumi Kanaya +110 vs. Kurt Kitayama -132
Brandon Wu -105 vs. Michael Kim -115
Joel Dahmen -120 vs. Nate Lashley +100
Austin Eckroat -129 vs. Hayden Buckley +108
Davis Riley -165 vs. David Lipsky +137
Mackenzie Hughes -110 vs. Matthew Nesmith -110
Will Gordon -134 vs. Justin Lower +112
Aaron Baddeley +100 vs. Robby Shelton -120
Harry Hall +100 vs. Andrew Novak -120
Need to Know
Nine holes from each of the two courses at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club make up the layout. The traditional Japanese-style track had some length added a few years ago but remains short by Tour standards playing at 7,079 yards and par 70. It’s a straightforward design complicated by tree-lined fairways and several doglegs. The field will consist of up to 78 golfers with several exemptions for JGTO members. The limited field also means no cut so every golfer is guaranteed four rounds. A number of holes on the course have two greens, which might confuse some viewers not familiar with this design. Hopefully the players don’t get confused, but they are allowed a free drop should they pinpoint the wrong landing spot.
ZOZO Championship Matchup Picks
Keegan Bradley -110 vs. Sahith Theegala
Narashino isn’t a difficult course but there are some intricacies that can pose a problem. Bradley has navigated those expertly in his three previous visits with progressively better finishes. He went from T13 in the 2019 debut and grabbed a share of seventh when the tournament returned to Japan in 2021. He withstood a late rally from the field last year to end a four-year title drought winning by a shot. It’s hard to ignore the results, which is why I’m backing Bradley.
Sungjae Im -120 vs. Rickie Fowler
Im hasn’t pegged it up on Tour since the TOUR Championship in August, but that doesn’t mean he’s been idle. Quite the opposite actually. Im and teammate Si Woo Kim won the team gold medal at the Asian Games and just last week he was runner-up at the Korean Tour’s Genesis Championship. Im reached the podium at this event in 2019 and returned to Narashino last year to place among the top 30.
Eric Cole -125 vs. Nicolai Hojgaard
There’s something about momentum in golf that seems to be much bigger than in any other sport. When the swing is working everything falls into place and Cole has been wielding some wicked sticks lately. Maybe he’s in a zone or maybe he’s gotten better at the game, which would explain his rise. He worked his way to fourth at the Fortinet Championship and closed the Shriners with a 62 to grab a share of third. Things are clicking for him and I’m riding the hot hand.
Hideki Matsuyama +122 vs. Collin Morikawa
I mentioned in another article that Matsuyama has plenty of value if he’s healthy enough to play. We haven’t seen him since a first round WD at the BMW Championship in August with back problems given as the reason. With the torque used in hitting a golf ball a healthy and strong back is a must, which is why I’m hesitant. Backing Matsuyama is a good strategy, but it might be better to wait and see what happens. Since I don’t have that luxury I’m throwing down on him hoping that he’s good to go with a win and runner-up clear indicators that Narashino is home.
Thomas Detry -127 vs. Emiliano Grillo
Detry is putting up a fight for PGA Rookie of the Year, though most have Eric Cole winning the honor. Still, there are a few tournaments remaining until the voting and Detry can make things a little more interesting with a strong finish this week. He has just five MCs in 25 starts this season with three top 10s among his 10 top 25s. His strong all-around game also appears to be a good fit for Narashino putting the Belgian at the top of my list.
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