Some of the bigger names in the sport are dusting off the clubs ahead of the sixth 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 victory. The last two winners ended lengthy droughts with Keegan Bradley in 2022 earning his first title in four years and Collin Morikawa getting his first title in more than two years with a record 6-shot victory last October. Morikawa looks to become the first two-time winner but ahead of him on the odds board is world No. 2 and Presidents Cup teammate Xander Schauffele. Co-sanctioned 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 +515
Collin Morikawa +795
Hideki Matsuyama +928
Sungjae Im +1526
Sahith Theegala +2215
Kurt Kitayama +2455
Justin Thomas +2500
Beau Hossler +3249
Min Woo Lee +3353
Si Woo Kim +3359
Doug Ghim +4006
Maverick McNealy +4511
Max Homa +4850
J.J. Spaun +5352
Seamus Power +5553
Will Zalatoris +5850
Patrick Rodgers +5853
Eric Cole +6552
Taylor Moore +6553
Kyoung Hoon Lee +6651
Rickie Fowler +6850
Rico Hoey +7041
Ben Griffin +7054
Harry Hall +7241
Tom Hoge +7250
Andrew Putnam +7504
Max Greyserman +7704
Mac Meissner +7754
Ryan Fox +7754
Sam Stevens +7754
Gary Woodland +7850
Odds Analysis
Rico Hoey +7041
Just because some of the bigger names are back in the lineup doesn’t mean they’re going to win. And there’s still plenty of value going down the odds board. There’s a mystique with the fall events that they aren’t as important to players solidly in the mix for next season. The hunger and drive are missing, but not for a guy like Hoey, who has displayed an all-around strong game during a current 10 for 10 that includes four top 10s, including a T3 last week in Vegas.
Kurt Kitayama +2455
Another player on a nice run of form with solid, if not spectacular, results in this tournament. Kitayama racked up a pair of top 10s and a T25 in Utah over his last three starts displaying the pinpoint accuracy and scrambling ability that’s been a major part of his Tour success. Two years ago in Japan he cracked the top 30 and last year was in contention for 54 holes before fading in the final round. Still he finished T16.
Hideki Matsuyama +928
Finally over some nagging injuries that caused a minor hitch in his game, Matsuyama had a marvelous regular season winning twice with six additional top 10s. The form he displayed was similar to what we saw from him in 2021 when he won the ZOZO by five shots. A native of Japan this event has special meaning to him and now that he’s feeling good about his game a repeat from three years ago isn’t off the table.
Andrew Putnam +7504
I’m going further down the odds board and taking my own advice led me to Putnam. He’s played this event three times with progressively better finishes. After last year’s T2 there’s only one way to go and that’s up to No. 1. Some of his better results have come on shorter courses and this one is a perfect fit as evidenced by last year’s result. He enters playing well recording four top 25s in his last six worldwide starts.
Sahith Theegala +2215
I mentioned the downfall that some veterans could face playing in the fall. That’s hasn’t been an issue for Theegala since he’s still young enough to remember how the fall events shaped his game. And he’s returning to a spot that’s been good to him. The former Pepperdine star has a pair of top 20s in two starts with a best of T5 in 2022. He also has three top 10s in his last five starts with a T7 at the Procore Championship last month.
Course: Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club – 7,079 yards, Par 70
Located just outside of Tokyo, the club hosted the Japan PGA Championship in 1968, three years after opening. 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. Morikawa’s 266 total last year was the highest of any winner and he also had the largest margin finishing six swings ahead of the pack.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel
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