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PGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. announce 2021 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will be contested in Japan

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and TOKYO – PGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. officials today announced that the 2021 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will be played as scheduled, October 21-24, at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan.

In 2019, the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP was launched as Japan’s first official PGA TOUR event, with Tiger Woods securing a three-shot victory over Hideki Matsuyama en route to tying the all-time record of 82 TOUR victories held by Sam Snead. The 2020 event was played at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, after being relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrick Cantlay secured a one-shot win over Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas for the first of four victories during a breakout 2020-21 PGA TOUR season in which he won the...

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Injured McIlroy withdraws from PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy withdrew from next week's prestigious PGA Championship at Wentworth, England, because of a niggling rib injury. The 28-year-old four-time major champion, who only returned to action last week from a month off following his wedding, missed five weeks earlier in the season because of the injury and aggravated it at last week's Players Championship. "Having had a reaction to my earlier rib injury, I have been advised to take a conservative approach to my recovery which unfortunately means I have to withdraw from the PGA Championship next week," the Northern Irishman said in a statement on the EPGA website. "It's a disappointing decision to have to make, but I have to ensure I make a full recovery. "I will now continue the process of preparing my game for the US Open and the...

First annual Japan PPGA TOUR event to debut October 2019 Introduction of the ZOZO Championship

The popular shopping site ZOZOTOWN operated by ZOZO Inc. announced a title sponsorship agreement with the PGA TOUR, establishing Japan’s first annual PGA TOUR tournament planned in the fall of 2019. 
 The 'ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP' is scheduled from October 21st-27th of 2019, and the main competition will be held on the 24th, as one of the early events of the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR season. The planned venue for the tournament Narashino Country Club in Chiba prefecture. The prize money of $9.75 million dollars(approximately \1.1 billion yen) will be the highest in Japan’s golf history. 
 Every year since 1993, the PGA TOUR has had at least one member from Japan on its membership roster, and there has been a total of 18 Japanese players who have held PGA TOUR membership to date. Currently, there...

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PGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. announce 2021 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will be contested in Japan

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and TOKYO – PGA TOUR and ZOZO Inc. officials today announced that the 2021 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP will be played as scheduled, October 21-24, at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan.

In 2019, the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP was launched as Japan’s first official PGA TOUR event, with Tiger Woods securing a three-shot victory over Hideki Matsuyama en route to tying the all-time record of 82 TOUR victories held by Sam Snead. The 2020 event was played at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, after being relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrick Cantlay secured a one-shot win over Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas for the first of four victories during a breakout 2020-21 PGA TOUR season in which he won the...

Matsuyama Eyes Come From Behind Win At The Tour Championship

With a green jacket already in his closet at home, Japan’s golf star Hideki Matsuyama is looking to conclude a “perfect” season when he makes his eighth successive appearance at the TOUR Championship this week.

The 29-year-old became his nation’s first male major champion following a triumph for the ages at the Masters Tournament in April and now has the opportunity to battle for the PGA TOUR’s ultimate prize, the FedExCup, in the Playoffs Finale at East Lake Golf Club.

“Winning the Masters and making it here to East Lake are probably the two things I’m most happy about and find the most satisfaction in,” said Matsuyama, who like Patrick Reed, holds the second most consecutive appearances at the TOUR Championship behind Dustin Johnson (13).

“It’s always a goal...

PGA Tour Super Season Set For Super Finish At Tour Championship

As the dust settles from Patrick Cantlay’s wild six-hole playoff victory over Bryson DeChambeau at the BMW Championship, one question remains ahead of the final event of the PGA TOUR season.

What does the TOUR Championship have planned for an encore?

The PGA TOUR’s most exciting season yet is set to conclude just how it started – with epic storylines, big moments, and dramatic finishes. After 49 thrilling tournaments, only one player is set to walk away with the PGA TOUR’s Ultimate Prize – the FedExCup trophy and its accompanying US$15 million prize.

“It's a fantastic place to be,” said South African Erik van Rooyen, who qualified for the 30-player field thanks to a fifth-place finish at Caves Valley. “Obviously it's my first full year on the PGA TOUR, and it...

DeChambeau sizzles with a 60 the lead with Korea’s Im in close pursuit at BMW Championship

Korea’s Sungjae Im stayed firmly in contention at the BMW Championship following a 7-under 65 on a day American muscleman Bryson DeChambeau blitzed the Caves Valley Golf Club with a stunning 12-under 60 for the solo second round lead on Friday.

Im made eight birdies against a lone bogey to end the weather-disrupted day on 12-under 132 in tied fourth place, four shots back of DeChambeau who missed a 6-foot, 3-inch birdie putt on the final hole for a magical 59 as he posted his career-low score.

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan made an eagle and four birdies but his charge was slowed down considerably with three bogeys, including on the last hole as he signed for a 69 to lie in tied 15th place on 8-under.

Chasing his second PGA TOUR victory in what is...

Self-Belief Finally Brings Finau Back To The Winner’s Circle

For 1,975 days, Tony Finau never wavered.

When the press went from praising him to questioning him, he never blinked. Same, too, when his most ardent fans moved away from their predictions of golf greatness and instead began to question whether he had what it took to win on Sundays.

But for Finau, nothing ever changed. He knew all along what it would take to win, just like he knew all along he had those attributes in hand.

“Well, you know, I continue to believe in myself. That's the bottom line,” Finau said. “It's more massive I think for just my sense of accomplishment for myself. I've worked extremely hard, not only on my game; but on my body to put myself in these types of positions and eventually I knew it was going to happen.”

To Finau’s credit—and...

Four Asian stars advance into BMW Championship

Korea’s Sungjae Im enjoyed his best finish at THE NORTHERN TRUST in a share of 16th place on Monday as he led three other Asian stars into the second FedExCup Playoffs event, the BMW Championship which begins on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Im, who was making his third appearance in the first Playoffs event, closed out the weather-hit week which forced a Monday finish with five birdies against four bogeys at Liberty National Golf Club. He rose from 30th position to 25th on the FedExCup standings following his 14th top-25 finish of the PGA TOUR 2020-21 Season.

Japan’s reigning Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama settled for a share of 43rd following a 70 as well which included a double bogey, bogey finish over his closing two holes. He dropped two rungs to 16th place on the...

India’s Lahiri and Matsuyama shoot 69s for T15 at THE NORTHERN TRUST

India’s Anirban Lahiri ground out a 2-under 69 in the first round of THE NORTHERN TRUST on Thursday to keep alive his hopes of extending his run in the FedExCup Playoffs.

The 34-year-old, who qualified for the first of three Playoffs events in 121st position, needs to jump inside the top-70 this week and his cause was helped with a solid showing amidst swirly conditions at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.

American Justin Thomas, who was the FedExCup champion in 2017, and Spaniard World No. 1, Jon Rahm carded matching 63s to share the first round lead, with Harald Varner III of the U.S. sitting in third place following a 66.

Lahiri pencilled down four birdies against two bogeys for a share of 15th position with amongst others, Japanese star...

Matsuyama falls short after great fightback at WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

For the second successive week, Hideki Matsuyama fell agonisingly short in a playoff lottery.

The Japanese reigning Masters champion looked poised to register what a memorable come-from-behind victory at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational on Sunday but lost in a three-way playoff at TPC Southwind in Memphis to Abraham Ancer, who became the first Mexican to win a WGC title. It was also Ancer’s first PGA TOUR victory.

The defeat came seven days after Matsuyama was also involved in a tense seven-man playoff for the bronze medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 which Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan prevailed for the podium finish.

Matsuyama started the final round in Memphis some nine shots off the lead and produced a stunning bogey-free 7-under 63 to...

Korda Wins Gold, Japan’s Inami Silver At The Women’s Olympic Golf Competition

The final day of the women's golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics was held at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Saturday where Nelly Korda (USA) ranked No.1 in the world took the gold with a dominating performance, finishing at 17 under par.

Japanese Mone Inami became the first Japanese golfer to win an Olympic medal, capturing silver in a playoff over New Zealand's Lydia Ko. Starting the day 5 back, she played aggressively and carded a 65 with 9 birdies and 3 bogies, for joint second at -16.

The 1st play off hole was the difficult 18th, which Inami saved par, while Ko missed her par putt, and the game was settled. On the JLPGA tour, Inami is 3 for 3 in playoffs, and was able to draw on that experience to produce a historic scene.

Elsewhere in the field, Japan...

CHINA’S LIN AND FENG EYE STRONG FINISH AT OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 WOMEN’S GOLF

China’s Xiyu Lin cut a frustrated figure at Tokyo 2020 women’s golf competition following Friday’s third round, but believes she is due for a bucket of birdies in her bid for an Olympic Games medal.

The 25-year-old Lin laboured to a 2-under 69 at Kasumigaseki Country Club’s East Course to stay within three shots of a podium finish in tied 10th place alongside compatriot Shanshan Feng, the bronze medallist from Rio 2016, who fired a 68 for a 7-under 206 total.

American World No. 1 Nelly Korda remained on track for the gold medal where a third-round 69 sees her taking a three-shot lead into the final round on 15-under over India’s Aditi Ashok, who carded a 68. Japan’s Mone Inami, Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark, Australian Hannah Green and New Zealander Lydio Ko, the...

India's Aditi Enjoys Fast Start As She Chases Olympic Medal

Five years ago, Aditi Ashok was a wide-eyed teenager enjoying her time amongst the giants of sports and being the youngest competitor in the women’s golf competition at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.

Fast forward to Tokyo 2020, the Indian lass has made it clear of her intention to stamp her mark at Kasumigaseki Country Club, and challenge for an historic medal for her country.

The 23-year-old Ashok fired a stellar 4-under 67 in Wednesday’s first round played under hot and humid conditions to lie one shot behind leader Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden. She is tied for second with American star Nelly Korda, with three others a further shot back.

“Last time I think it was more just enjoying the experience and staying at the (Olympic) Village, seeing all the other...

Chinese Taipei's CT Pan Savors Historic Olympic Medal With Wife Michelle

C.T. Pan enjoyed a slice of Olympic history by winning Chinese Taipei’s first-ever bronze medal in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 men’s golf competition on Sunday and it was extra special with wife, Michelle by his side.

The 29-year-old Pan, who is a former double gold medal winner in the Asian Games, was the last man standing following a pulsating seven-way play-off for the bronze at Kasumigaseki Country Club which included Collin Morikawa of the U.S., Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Great Britain’s Paul Casey, Mito Pereira of Chile, Colombian Sebastian Munoz and home hero Hideki Matsuyama.

After four extra holes, Pan, who had Michelle on caddying duties this week, prevailed over two-time major champion Morikawa with a par on the 18th hole. American Xander Schauffele won the...

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What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway If your ball strikes a fellow players ball on the fairway by accident, both players will play from where their balls lie. There will be no penalty...

Up Your Golf Game With an Apple Watch More than an accessory!

Mark your score after that awesome birdie, check the yardage via GPS, decide strategy on the next hole. But first, a quick press of the digital crown to have Siri remind you to call your wife when you get back to the clubhouse. Wait,… what? Yep! All of that was just done on your Apple Watch. It's certainly not your father’s Rolex anymore when it comes to golfing and the Apple Watch.

Just like how the iPhone and other smartphones revolutionized how we communicate and use technology 10 years ago, the new Apple Watch has changed how golfers approach the game today, and possibly changed the game itself. And, with onboard GPS, increased water protection and other performance enhancements Apple Watch Series 2 has the potential to make an even bigger impact. It comes as no surprise...