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ZOZO Championship Preview & Picks - Best PGA Tour Picks For Japan

By Gary Emmerson

22 Oct 2024

Gary Emmerson 22 Oct 2024

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ZOZO Championship picks for October 24-27
Tournament taking place at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Japan
Preview, predictions, stats & form

Hideki Matsuyama (Getty Images)

The PGA Tour makes its traditional stop in Japan this week, but who will leave as winner of the ZOZO Championship?

Collin Morikawa returns to defend his title after a six-stroke victory over Eric Cole and Beau Hossler in 2023.

Past and present major winners who will tee on Thursday include Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland.

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.

Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama has been in great touch on the PGA Tour lately, placing T8 at the Memorial Tournament, 6th at the U.S. Open, T23 at the Travelers Championship, MC at the Genesis Scottish Open, T66 at the Open Championship, 3rd at the Paris Olympics, victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, W/D at the BMW Championship and T9 at the Tour Championship.

Other notable results achieved by Matsuyama this year include finishing T13 at the Farmers Insurance Open, T22 at the WM Phoenix Open, victory at the Genesis Invitational, T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T6 at the Players Championship and T7 at the Valero Texas Open.

The nine-time PGA Tour winner has made four appearances at the ZOZO Championship, placing 2nd in 2019, T28 in 2020, victory in 2021, T40 in 2022 and T51 in 2023.

Matsuyama has been producing excellent results lately and can lift the winning trophy at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club come Sunday.

Sungjae Im

Sungjae Im has been playing consistent golf on the PGA Tour since the end of June, placing T3 at the Travelers Championship, T12 at the John Deere Classic, T4 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T7 at the Open Championship, T41 at the Wyndham Championship, T40 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T11 at the BMW Championship and 7th at the Tour Championship.

Additional highlights achieved by Sungjae Im this season include finishing T5 at the Sentry, T25 at the American Express, T18 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T12 at the RBC Heritage, victory at the Woori Financial Group Championship (Korean Tour), T4 at the Wells Fargo Championship, T9 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and T8 at the Memorial Tournament.

The South Korean golfer has featured four times at the ZOZO Championship, placing T3 in 2019, T41 in 2020, T29 in 2022 and T12 in 2023.

Im comes into this event on the back of some solid results and can secure the title in Japan this weekend.

Sahith Theegala

Sahith Theegala has been in ultra-consistent form on the PGA Tour lately, placing T4 at the Genesis Scottish Open, MC at the Open Championship, T6 at the 3M Open, T46 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, 48th at the BMW Championship, 3rd at the Tour Championship and T7 at the Procore Championship.

Other noteworthy results achieved by Theegala this season include finishing 2nd at the Sentry, T20 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 5th at the WM Phoenix Open, T6 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T9 at the Players Championship, T12 at the PGA Championship, and T12 at the Memorial Tournament.

The American has featured twice at the ZOZO Championship, finishing T5 in 2022 and T19 in 2023.

Theegala will fancy his chances of winning the title in Japan after placing inside the top ten on four occasions in his previous seven outings.

Harry Hall

Harry Hall found form on the PGA Tour at the beginning of July, placing T12 at the John Deere Classic, victory at the ISCO Championship, and T24 at the 3M Open before missing the cut at the Wyndham Championship.

Hall shrugged off that poor performance, placing T12 at the Betfred British Masters, MC at the Amgen Irish Open, T18 at the BMW PGA Championship, T35 at the Black Desert Championship, and T9 at the Shriners Children's Open last weekend in his subsequent five starts.

The 27-year-old finished T21 overall at the 2023 ZOZO Championship on debut.

Hall has been thereabouts lately and could cause an upset victory at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club this weekend.

Verdict

ZOZO Championship

Matsuyama has the form to win his second ZOZO Championship title this weekend.

Im has been thereabouts and should enter calculations in Japan.

Theegala has been playing well lately and can emerge victorious at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club come Sunday.

Hall has come good during the latter half of the season on the PGA Tour and is the long-shot value bet this weekend.

Hideki Matsuyama

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Sungjae Im

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