Joe Champion
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This week’s PGA Tour action comes via the Zozo Championship at Narashino Country Club in Inzai, Japan, which hosts the 6th edition of this event and the 5th to take place in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Zozo has lost some of its luster with the creation of the Fall Series but the PGA Tour’s only Asia gathering has attracted a stellar trio in the shape of Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama. Let’s get into our Zozo Championship predictions and golf best bets.
Zozo Championship golf picks and predictions
Collin Morikawa (+750)
Odds generally available at time of publishing.
Schauffele has had a magnificent season and Matsuyama waltzed his way to this title in 2021, winning by 5 shots, but both could struggle to stop Morikawa, who won by 6 strokes last year and looks poised to mount a successful defense. The 27-year-old, whose father is Japanese, has not claimed a title since winning this in 2023 but he’s been a consistent PGA Tour contender over the last 6 months and fired the lowest 72-hole score at the Tour Championship in his last start. Morikawa went 4-1 at the Presidents Cup last month, striking his irons with customary zest, and he’s shown on numerous occasions that he knows how to prepare himself after a break. Narashino, a tree-lined track where accurate iron-play is vital to success, is an ideal fit.
Beau Hossler (+3500)
Odds available at Bet365 at time of publishing.
The quality quickly dips in this 78-man field and if the elite names at the top fail to live up to their ability, that could open the door for in-form Beau Hossler. Hossler was 2nd, beaten in a playoff, at the Sanderson Farms Championship 3 weeks ago and has since finished 11th and 23rd. He was 16th at Narashino in 2022 and a runner-up last year.
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Gary Woodland (+7000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Gary Woodland was convalescing after major surgery when the last Zozo Championship took place but the 2019 US Open champion returns to Japan with title ambitions having finished 19th and 5th in his last 2 PGA Tour starts. Woodland is capable of top-class ball-striking and was 5th at Narashino in the first Zozo in 2019, when only Tiger Woods, Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy and Sungjae Im proved too strong.
Kensei Hirata (+15000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Of the Japanese contingent, Japan Tour force Kensei Hirata catches the eye at big odds. Hirata has won 4 times on his home circuit since the start of July and finished 6th in last season’s Zozo. He can cope with the step up in grade.
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