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The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP returns to Japan – and specifically the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club – after last year’s Covid-demanded re-location to Sherwood Country Club in California. It was quite the occasion two years ago, when the fans flocked into the property (at least until kept away on Saturday by the storm), celebrating first the presence of Tiger Woods, then the career of Hideki Matsuyama, and finally the fact that the two men finished one-two, with Woods lifting the trophy. With Rory McIlroy tying Sungjae Im for third the then-reigning US Open champion Gary Woodland in fifth it was a very fine top of the leaderboard. The field is not quite so high quality as on that occasion, or, indeed, last year, but it has plenty of stars. Matsuyama will be the local hero for the week again, closely followed by two men with family links to Japan – the Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele and the two-time major winner Collin Morikawa. Long-term fans of the PGA Tour will also be intrigued by the presence of Ryuji Imada in the field. The course is a par 70 playing just a touch over 7,000 yards so it is not long, but it proved demanding from the tee. The players, when asked for their thoughts on the course, were pretty much in agreement. Collin Morikawa said: “You don't have to hit driver at all. It's really important to hit the fairways. Even though the rough isn't super long, it's still penalizing into small greens.” It’s not only that the target is small, but miss the fairway and the rough is tricky, as explained by Woods: “This grass, Zoysia, man, you can get some serious flyers out here, monster flyers.” Xander Schauffele added: “The greens are slopier than I anticipated. Coming downhill, I'm not going to lie, I putted it off like three or four greens in the practice round, which was a little shocking.” And Rory McIlroy, a decent analyst of a course, concluded: “It's a great course, in great condition, the greens are so pure, and it sort of reminds me a little bit of the course we play in Mexico, Chapultepec. Reminds me a little bit of that, just sort of the tree lined and sort of the doglegs and having to sort of cut off corners.”
Angles to consider 1/ Greens in Regulation We have no Strokes gained data, instead we’re reliant on conventional numbers. In 2019 10 of the top 12 performer on the leaderboard ranked top 20 for GIR – with the Woods third and runner-up Matsuyama seventh. 2/ Putting Average The top 12 were less strong overall in this category but the top four finishers separated themselves from the field on the greens. Woods was second, Matsuyama first, the two men sharing third were fourth and 12th. 3/ Firestone A tree-lined country club that suits strong drivers of the ball – Firestone anyone? Of the top four, Woods was gun there Matsuyama and McIlroy both won there, Sungjae Im never had the chance. Another two Firestone winners (Keegan Bradley and Shane Lowry) finish T13th. And yet another Firestone winner (Justin Thomas) fired a join low round in the final round. Selections The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected. Collin Morikawa Tight at the top between the two Americans with Japanese heritage and it might be that the books have the favourite the wrong way round. It’s very tight so it could easily be argued both ways, but Morikawa looked superb last week bar one round, he will feel like he left something at the Olympics, Schauffele didn’t and he will also have to deal with more media fuss this week. Morikawa finds green for fun. Erik Van Rooyen McIlroy’s note about Chapultepec is the first pointer because Van Rooyen was third there. He’s also well-used to Zoysia grass. He’s a fine putter and he has five top 25s from his last seven starts including a win. Keegan Bradley He finished T13th here two years ago and he’s a past winner at Firestone. Hitting a lot of greens in recent times (ranking seventh in this field).
Tips: 0-3; -6.00pts 2pts Collin Morikawa at 15/2 (Sporting Index) 7th 1pt e.w. Erik Van Rooyen at 40/1 (William Hill 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 48th 1pt e.w. Keegan Bradley at 40/1 (BetFred 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) 7th
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