A busy start to the season in the PGA Tour continues with a good number of the world’s top golfers heading across the Pacific Ocean to the 2023 Zozo Championship in Japan this week. There’s $11 million on the line, plus plenty of players eager to get some momentum in their seasons over the coming months, so expect some great golfing action in Chiba this weekend.
Xander Schauffele headlines the field coming to Japan looking for a much-needed win. The American hasn’t lifted a trophy in well over a year and has a fair amount of controversy surrounding him at the moment, thanks to his father’s comments following the Ryder Cup in Rome. Can the 29-year-old shift the narrative this week by winning again in the country where he’s claimed Olympic gold famously? Or will the likes of home favourite Hideki Matsuyama steal the show instead?
We break down all the latest odds from bookmaker bet365 and outline the best bets to make on the 2023 Zozo Championship this week.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 18th, 2:30 P.M. (GMT)
World No. 6 Xander Schauffele leads the betting odds at bet365 ahead of the 2023 Zozo Championship, paying a low 8.00 for the win here in Japan. Behind him, two top 30 players offer the hottest competition, with Collin Morikawa sitting at 12.00 and Sungjae Im right behind him on 13.00. Hideki Matsuyama offers Japan’s best chance of a home victory, level on 17.00 with Rickie Fowler and Min Woo Lee.
Odds for finishing in the top 10 follow a similar pattern, with Schauffele returning 1.83, through to Matsuyama, Fowler and Lee who are all on 2.62.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 18th, 2:30 P.M. (GMT)
There’s an argument to be made here that Xander Schauffele will have a strong bounce back tournament and win this week at the Zozo Championships. He’s previously declared that he loves playing in Japan, and the win couldn’t come at a better time for the American. However, with odds of only 8.00 and a healthy chance that Schauffele’s patchy form continues, it doesn’t feel like a bet worth taking.
We say instead back home favourite Hideki Matsuyama. The world No. 36 has won on this ground previously and finished runner up as well, so he knows how to achieve success here. Though it’s been more than six months since Matsuyama’s last top 10 finish, the Japanese player still has great stats this season and feels well positioned to go on a big run on a green he’s familiar with. Back him for the outright win at a lucrative 17.00.
