After spending two weeks in Las Vegas, the PGA Tour will head to Japan for the Zozo Championship this week.
The tournament was relocated to California last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so this will be the first time since 2019 that it will be played in Japan. Below, we look at the 2021 Zozo Championship odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions to win.
This week’s field isn’t as loaded as it was for the CJ Cup as many of the top players in the world won’t tee it up at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele enter as two of the biggest names, with Morikawa 16th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and Schauffele eighth. Japan’s own Hideki Matsuyama will be in the field as he looks to win on home soil.
Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club is a par 70 course and will play 7,041 yards. The lowest round at the course during the 2019 event was 63, which both Keegan Bradley and Rory McIlroy fired in the second and third rounds, respectively.
2021 Zozo Championship picks – Favorite
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 4:15 p.m. ET.
Collin Morikawa (+700)
Morikawa finished second at the CJ Cup last week after shooting 62 on Sunday, making a strong run at the title with an excellent final two rounds. If not for a second-round 70, he likely would’ve unseated McIlroy for his first win of the season. He’s a perfect fit for this championship, ranking fourth on tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green.
He’s the second favorite behind only Schauffele, but in a weaker field now is a good time to throw some money on Morikawa to hoist the trophy Sunday.
2021 Zozo Championship picks – Contender
Harry Higgs (+7000)
Higgs is fresh off a T-9 finish at the CJ Cup following steady play at The Summit Club with a low round of 64 on Thursday. He also finished T-27 the week prior at the Shriners Open as he has got off to a great start this season.
The 29-year-old has played well dating back to last season and could contend for his first career victory after finishing second on tour twice before.
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2021 Zozo Championship picks – Long shot
Keita Nakajima (+20000)
Nakajima is the top-ranked amateur in the world according to the WGAR and won the Japan Amateur Championship this summer. The 21-year-old won the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the top-ranked amateur in the world for 2021.
He’s still a long shot to win this week, but it would be quite the story for him to win his first PGA Tour event in Japan.
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