Star-studded Lineup for Zozo

The Zozo Championship is getting plenty of buzz, particularly for a newly-minted PGA Tour event that was sanctioned only last year. It is the first PGA sanctioned event ever in Japan but this year the venue will shift from last year’s Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club located in Inzai, Japan to the Sherwood Country Club in Lake Sherwood, California due to the global pandemic and travel restrictions. It will be held from October 22^nd through the 25^th. 

The move is good news in terms of getting the PGA heavyweights to compete. Tigers Woods won the inaugural event in 2019 and has committed to defending his title. 

“It’s disappointing we will not be able to play in Japan this year, but Sherwood Country Club will be a great backdrop for what I know will be a great championship,” Woods said.

Nevertheless, Tiger has dominated tournaments held at Sherwood, which was the site for his currently-named Hero World Challenge from 2000 through 2013, which he won five times and placed second on five other occasions. The Zozo is a four-day, no-cut, tournament, and will have 78 players all vying for a purse of $8 million. 

But Tiger is far from the only attraction as reigning FedExCup winner Dustin Johnson, World No. 2 Jon Rahm, as well as perennial contender, Rory McIlroy, who placed tied third in the inaugural Zozo Championship last October will all be participating. Speaking of McIlroy, according to SBR the talented Northern Irishman is one of the favorites to take home the hardware. 

Rising Japanese Stars

Eight Japanese golfers will compete at the Zozo and one of them is fresh off of the amateur circuit in which he won the 2020 McCormack Medal. Takumi Kanaya, the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world is hoping to light the world on fire. 

“I’m extremely grateful for the invitation to participate in the Zozo Championship,” said Kanaya.

“I’d like to first express my sincere gratitude to the organizers and all the people involved in making this tournament possible during such a difficult time. I am very honored to have such a valuable opportunity to play immediately after turning professional. I look forward to competing in such a strong field and will do my best to play well and stay competitive,” added the 22-year-old Japanese sensation.

Ryo Ishikawa, aka The Bashful Prince, a 17-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour and a former regular face on the PGA Tour, will also be competing, as will Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama. 

Matsuyama stated: “We are grateful that Zozo Inc. has decided to bring the tournament to the U.S. this year although I know the golf fans in Japan will be disappointed. Hopefully, they will enjoy the live TV broadcast of the event. Last year’s Zozo Championship was a great success and it was an honor to participate in Japan’s first official PGA TOUR tournament. I was especially thrilled with the large galleries that lined each fairway and how they cheered on all the players.” 

However, last year Matsuyama was three strokes back of the eventual winner, Tiger Woods, but his 16 under par over the four days was good enough for second place. Matsuyama gave credit where it was due, “Many of my fellow PGA Tour members have expressed to me what a great time they had at the Zozo Championship and how impressed they were with the golf etiquette and knowledge of the game that the gallery displayed. I was fortunate to play well last year and contend for the title. However, Tiger just played better than all of us. It was a well-deserved win and hats off to Tiger for earning his record-tying 82nd PGA Tour victory. I know he will be tough to beat at Sherwood where he has had great success in the past. I am really looking forward to Sherwood. Hopefully, I can play well enough to contend for the trophy again this year and give the golf fans back in Japan a good show.”Korean-American Chan Kim, an Arizona State graduate and a four-time winner in Japan, will take another crack at the tournament after tying for 41^st position last year and shooting one under par. He stated, “This event means a lot to me because of the opportunity we are given to compete with the world’s best golfers. I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity for some of the Japan Tour’s best to showcase our talent on the big stage. I can’t wait for the event.”