Some of the bigger names in the sport are dusting off the clubs ahead of the fifth edition of the ZOZO Championship. The brief history of the tournament has produced memorable moments with Tiger Woods’ last Tour title taking place in 2019. The tournament returned to Japan in 2021 after relocating due to COVID with native son Hideki Matsuyama claiming a record 5-shot victory. Last year Keegan Bradley ended a four-year title drought with his one-shot win over a pair of golfers. Bradley and Matsuyama are back looking to become the first two-time winner but ahead of them on the odds board are American Ryder Cup teammates Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler. Co-sanctioned again by the Japan Golf Tour Organization there will be several JGTO members in the 78-player, no-cut field pegging it up at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. Be sure to visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
ZOZO Championship Betting Odds
Xander Schauffele +675
Collin Morikawa +1200
Sungjae Im +1400
Rickie Fowler +1400
Hideki Matsuyama +1600
Min Woo Lee +1800
Sahith Theegala +1800
Cameron Davis +2000
Keegan Bradley +2200
Adam Scott +2500
Eric Cole +2700
Adam Schenk +3500
Adam Svensson +4000
Beau Hossler +4000
Nicolai Hojgaard +4000
Alex Noren +4000
Aaron Rai +4500
Emiliano Grillo +4500
Cameron Champ +4500
Thomas Detry +4500
J.J. Spaun +5000
Vincent Norrman +5000
Keith Mitchell +5500
Matt Wallace +5500
Justin Suh +5500
Tom Hoge +5500
Ben Griffin +5500
Mark Hubbard +5850
Takumi Kanaya +6000
Kurt Kitayama +6350
Odds Analysis
Keegan Bradley +2200
Bradley has a fondness for the ZOZO – the one held in Japan and not elsewhere. During his three visits to the island Bradley got progressively better until he couldn’t outdo what he accomplished last year, winning the tournament by a single shot. He played with Woods in the inaugural event carding a second round 63 en route to a T13 finish. Two years late in the return to Japan he notched a T7 setting himself up for the ultimate prize last season.
Eric Cole +2700
Following a rough start to the season Cole picked it up and is playing his best golf of the year with a pair of top 5s in three FedExCup Fall events. And the results came in tournaments he missed the cut in a year earlier. Cole was 16-under in Napa for solo fourth and carded a closing 62 last week for a podium finish at the Shriners. He closed the regular season going 10 for 10 with a T6 in the Canadian Open.
Cameron Davis +2000
Unlike a number of players in the fall schedule, Davis isn’t fighting for placement or exemptions. He has what he needs for all the bigger events on the 2024 slate so he can concentrate on one thing this week – winning. And he’s been close to achieving that goal making the cut in each of his last six starts with five top 10s. He was 15-under after three rounds at the Fortinet Championship earning a solo third and consistency was his plan in Vegas with three 67s and a 66 earning him a T7.
Ryo Hisatsune +6500
Japan has churned out quality golfers over the years with Hisatsune potentially next in line. Just 21 years old he already has a win on the DP World Tour besting the field at the Cazoo Open in September and he’s poised to earn his 2024 Tour card by placing among the top 10 in that Tour. I don’t think he’ll be intimidated by the field posting a T12 in this tournament last year and playing a home game has its advantages.
Hideki Matsuyama +1600
I was hesitant to back Matsuyama at this price since he hasn’t pegged it up for a full go since the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August. He withdrew after 18 holes of the BMW Championship citing back issues and it’s always a fragile situation when dealing with that area of the body. If he’s healthy there’s some value since Matsuyama posted a record 5-swing victory in 2021 and also was runner-up to Woods in the 2019 inaugural event.
Course: Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club – 7,079 yards, Par 70
The field will attack nine holes from each of the two courses on the country club property with a total distance of just under 7,100 yards. Small by Tour standards it isn’t your typical par 70 layout 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. Bradley and Matsuyama each carded 15-under 265 to win the previous two tournaments in Japan.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel
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