Our staff of golf betting analysts has already made three ZOZO Championship picks for this weekend, so let's get right into their outright predictions.
ZOZO Championship Picks, Predictions
Matt Gannon: Kurt Kitayama (+3500, Caesars)
The ZOZO Championship has become a PGA Tour staple over the years and we are in for another fun week from Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.
This is a golf course that tests the entire bag but puts a real premium in total ball striking and keeping the ball on a string. Clearly, the field is a tad better this week, which gives us some nice options down the board.
Don’t look now, but Kurt Kitayama has been doing that! The Vegas man posted another great week in the desert with a T9 at TPC Summerlin. Over his last two starts, Kurt has gained over 16 strokes to the field on approach alone. That is an extreme feat, and it will really separate him this week.
The putter has been cold for Kurt which is surely a concern, but I love the fact that you do not need to roll 25 birdie putts on a course like Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. The ball striking will truly be the separator, and Kurt is a great candidate to do that.
Tony Sartori: Sungjae Im (+1400, Caesars)
Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club hosts the ZOZO Championship once again, which it has done annually since the tournament’s inception (with the exception of the COVID year). This course is a par-70, 7,079-yard track designed by Shinya Fujita that rewards long hitters.
The course itself isn’t that long, but the par-4s play long and reward those who can handle 200+ yard approach shots. Therefore, I am looking at birdie or better percentage from that range, as well as overall play and recent form to help narrow down our best bets this week.
That brings me to Sungjae Im, one of the tournament favorites at 14/1. Im is one of the best long iron players on Tour, ranking third in birdie or better percentage from 200+ yards.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that he finished T3 here in 2020 and T12 last season. Im also enters this week in incredible form, having made the weekend in eight consecutive tournaments.
He keeps flirting with winning, as Im boasts four top-seven finishes over that stretch, and this venue should suit his game well for him to knock down that door.
Spencer Aguiar: Kurt Kitayama (+3500, Caesars)
There is no iteration of my model where Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama aren't going to grade as the top three choices. However, where the opening presents itself on this board will land directly with Kurt Kitayama because of his recent ball-striking marks.
The former UNLV product (shameless plug for my school) is grading first in this field over his past 24 rounds ball striking, including landing inside the top three of this contest from each 25-yard bucket between 150 to 175, 175 to 200, and 200+.
With three somewhat challenging par-5 holes and five par-4s measuring between 486 yards and 505 yards, Kitayama's long iron play can be a massive advantage over the field for a tournament that will somewhat mitigate his putting concerns since we should get a lower winning score than we have been accustomed to recently.
