Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele, boasting a combined total of 18 PGA Tour victories, will take center stage as the headliners of the upcoming 2023 ZoZo Championship. The prestigious golf tournament is scheduled to take place from October 19-22 at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. Tournament officials unveiled this strong lineup on Tuesday, ensuring an exciting event for golf enthusiasts.
Accompanying this trio of golfing talents will be two of the PGA Tour’s emerging young stars, Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee.
Fowler, at 34 years old, recently snapped a four-year title drought by clinching his sixth PGA Tour victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July. His remarkable performance included seven additional top-10 finishes. Notably, Fowler secured a runner-up position in last year’s Zozo Championship, displaying his competitive edge.
Morikawa, a seasoned competitor at the Zozo Championship since its inception in 2019, has secured a notable T7 finish in 2021. The 26-year-old has solidified his status as a two-time major champion, triumphing in the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship, in addition to three other PGA TOUR wins. His impressive achievements in the 2022-23 Season include runner-up positions at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and Rocket Mortgage Classic, along with a third-place finish in the Farmers Insurance Open.
Xander Schauffele, a seven-time Tour winner and a member of the official 2023 Ryder Cup team, will bring his seasoned expertise to the championship. His remarkable season includes 10 top-10 finishes, featuring a runner-up spot at the Wells Fargo Championship and a joint third-place finish at The American Express. Schauffele’s consistent performance in the Zozo Championship is evident from his T9 finish last year and T10 finish in the inaugural edition.
The talented young guns of golf, Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee, are set to make their mark at the championship. Bhatia, aged 21, secured his maiden PGA Tour title at the Barracuda Championship in July. He turned professional at the age of 17 and showcased his prowess with a Korn Ferry Tour victory in 2022. Lee, a 25-year-old Australian, has demonstrated his mettle on the PGA TOUR this year, achieving a remarkable T6 finish at The Players Championship and a T9 finish at the Travelers Championship and the U.S. Open.
The ZoZo Championship is set to feature a competitive field of 78 players, competing over four rounds without a cut. The lineup includes 60 players from the FedExCup points list and those designated by the Japan Golf Tour Organization, along with the winner of the 2023 BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship (Takumi Kanaya) and sponsor exemptions.
The tournament winner will earn 500 FedExCup points, and as part of the PGA Tour Fall, the ZoZo Championship offers players the opportunity to secure their PGA TOUR status and earn additional playing opportunities for the 2024 season. Each Fall event winner will receive a two-year PGA TOUR exemption, entry into the season-opening The Sentry, The Players Championship, and qualification for majors where PGA TOUR victories count as eligibility status.
-IANS
