The PGA Tour has returned to the land of the rising solar.
This week, the ZOZO Championship takes heart stage on the Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Membership in Chiba, Japan, about 30 miles east of Tokyo.
Rickie Fowler might be available, as will defending champion Keegan Bradley.
“I actually, actually love taking part in within the nation of Japan,” Bradley stated Tuesday.
“I really like the followers, I really like the little cities that we’ve been in a position to discover. They’re so clear, and the meals is so nice. Having the ability to come over right here as an American and win this event is a giant deal. I actually look ahead to coming to Japan. It’s been certainly one of my favourite locations to play.”
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Bradley received the 2022 ZOZO Championship by one stroke over Fowler and Andrew Putnam.
Ought to Bradley go on to win this week, he can be the fifth participant this season to defend a title and second in as many weeks. Tom Kim efficiently defended his title eventually week’s Shriners Kids’s Open.
However Bradley has not competed professionally since taking part in within the Tour Championship in August, which featured the highest 30 gamers within the FedEx Cup standings.
Of these 30 that teed it up at East Lake, 9 are within the area this week in Japan: Bradley, Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Adam Schenk, Sungjae Im, Nick Taylor, Emiliano Grillo, and Taylor Moore.
Schauffele, the sixth-ranked participant on this planet, is the highest-ranked participant within the area.
Different notables embody Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, and fan-favorite Sahith Theegala.
Matsuyama, one of the vital well-known athletes in his residence nation, received the ZOZO Championship in entrance of his residence nation months after his maiden main victory.
The assist he obtained in 2021 rivaled the fanfare that surrounded Tiger Woods in 2019 when he received this event. That was the final time Woods received an occasion, which marked his 82nd victory on the PGA Tour.
“Lots of good reminiscences two years in the past with the victory,” Matsuyama stated. “It’s all the time nice to play within the ZOZO Championship.”
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The Japanese famous person then famous that the tough is thicker and longer than in years previous, which places a premium on discovering fairways.
Bradley agreed.
“[You] need to hit the fairways,” Bradley stated. “It’s only a nice golf course, with small little greens. I really like taking part in this course. You need to have loads of creativeness and work the ball into loads of these flags, so it’s an excellent course.”
Fowler, Bradley, and Matsuyama will play collectively for the primary two days, starting their opening rounds at 9:46 p.m. ET or 10:46 a.m. native time.
With Chiba, Japan, sitting 13 hours forward of Japanese Normal Time, the ZOZO Championship will air late at night time for many American viewers.
Golf Channel will start its protection of the primary spherical starting at 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday. It can conclude at 3 a.m. ET early Thursday.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough too.