Opening Round at the ZOZO Championship at Sherwood
COURSE: Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, California
ARCHITECT: Jack Nicklaus
YARDS/PAR: 7,073 yards/Par 72
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,000,000/$1,440,000
DEFENDING Champion: Tiger Woods (2019 Leaderboard)
FEDEx CUP Points/Winner Share: 2,989/500
TV Coverage: Thursday-Sunday (5pm-8pm ET) - GOLF Channel
PGA Tour Radio Coverage: Thu-Fri (2pm-8pm ET); Sat-Sun (3pm-8pm ET)
PGA Live: All days: (12:45pm-8pm ET); Twitter: All days: (12:45pm-1:45pm ET)
Tournament Notes
The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP @ SHERWOOD was moved to Thousand Oaks, California for one year after debuting in 2019 at its Japanese home of Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan. Sherwood Country Club served as the home of the Hero World Challenge from 2000 through 2013.
Players will begin their R-1 today with first groups teeing off at 12:50pm (ET).
Tiger Woods is back in action this week. Here’s Woods on the state of his game as compared to when he MTC at U.S. Open: “My game's definitely better than it was at the U.S. Open. I feel a little bit more prepared, a little bit better, and hopefully that translates into playing the golf course.”
Phil Mickelson rejoins the PGA Tour after two events with the Champions. What’s his viewpoint? “It's been really fun for me to play and compete on the Champions Tour, a lot more so than I thought it would be,” said Mickelson during his Wednesday media session. “I don't know why. I'm surprised how much fun I'm having, how much fun it is to see some of the same guys that I've seen for so many years and haven't had a chance to be with them for a number of years now. To reunite and to say hello and to play and compete against them has been fun for me.
“I enjoyed the golf courses that I've played, a couple of really top tracks, Crenshaw-Coore design in the Ozarks and last week a very historic site at the Country Club of Virginia. So it's been fun for me to play over there. I seem to get a little bit of confidence and I'm hoping to bring that over into this event as well,” he added.
News: Mickelson said he might choose to tune-up for The Masters at a place other than the Houston Open (where a limited number of fans will be allowed for the first time since the PGA Tour re-started).
“I think that they will do a very good, safe job in having 2,000 people at the Houston Open,'' Mickelson said at his media session yesterday. "However, for me personally, I don't like the risk that having that happen the week before the Masters. I just feel like the week before the Masters, like that's a big tournament we have and I just don't want to have any risk heading in there.” … AP reports (link)
News: Australian Adam Scott tested COVID+ and had to withdraw from the ZOZO Championship at Sherwood. He is the 15th PGA Tour player to test positive. Jim Herman replaced Scott in player field. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is also sitting out this week because of a prior COVID+ virus test. Matt Kuchar replaced Dustin Johnson.
Odds for the 2020 ZOZO Championship (William Hill)
Jon Rahm 10-1
Xander Schauffele 11-1
Rory McIlroy 12-1
Justin Thomas 12-1
Tyrrell Hatton 20-1
Webb Simpson 20-1
Collin Morikawa 22-1
Patrick Reed 22-1
Bubba Watson 25-1
Matthew Wolff 28-1
Daniel Berger 28-1
Hideki Matsuyama 28-1
Tony Finau 28-1
Patrick Cantlay 28-1
Viktor Hovland 30-1
Harris English 30-1
Patrick Cantlay 30-1
Joaquin Niemann 33-1
Tiger Woods 33-1
Matthew Fitzpatrick 33-1
Tommy Fleetwood 33-1
Russell Henley 40-1
Jason Kokrak 40-1
Abraham Ancer 40-1
Sungjae Im 40-1
Scottie Scheffler 40-1
Jason Day 40-1
Rickie Fowler 50-1
Phil Mickelson 60-1
Paul Casey 66-1
Billy Horschel 66-1
Cameron Smith 66-1
Sebastian Munoz 70-1
Jordan Spieth 80-1
Brian Harman 80-1
Cameron Champ 80-1
Justin Rose 80-1
Gary Woodland 80-1
Brendon Todd 80-1
Talor Gooch 80-1
Ryan Palmer 90-1
Kevin Na 100-1
Alex Noren 100-1
Marc Leishman 100-1
Kevin Streelman 100-1
Kevin Kisner 100-1
Lanto Griffin 100-1
Harry Higgs 100-1
Corey Conners 125-1
Mackenzie Hughes 125-1
Adam Hadwin 125-1
Byeong Hun An 125-1
Danny Lee 125-1
Adam Long 125-1
Joel Dahmen 150-1
Brendan Steele 150-1
What They’re Saying
Adam Scott test COVID+ and Is Out at Sherwood CC (USA Today)
Tiger Woods defends title at ZOZO Championship (Golf Week)
Tiger Woods Feeling Nostalgic (LA Times)
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