PGA DFS Playbook: ZOZO Championship

We all know how good Xander is and over the last couple months he’s shown the world at the Olympics and the Ryder Cup.  He finished Top 5 at the Tour Championship, won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan, and finished Top 20 at the CJ Cup last week.  Oh, did I mention that he finished Top 10 at the 2019 ZOZO at Accordia?  Yea, so I’d rather get him for a little cheaper than Morikawa this weekend.

Obviously he is comfortable playing in his home country and he finished 2nd at the 2019 ZOZO a few strokes behind Tiger.  He started 2021-2022 with a 6th at the Fortinet but two straight finishes of higher than 50th.  I won’t let that deter me from firing off on him this weekend.  Hideki has all the tools for success on this course which he knows better than most everyone in the field.  He will be highly owned, so know that going into your GPPs.

We got a short course with emphasis on chipping and putting, you know I’m rostering Tommy.  He has been all over the world over the last four months and hasn’t missed a cut.  He had two Top 10 finishes in the month of September on the European tour.  Tommy finished in a tie for 16th at the Olympic competition in Japan back in August as well.  He also competed at the 2019 ZOZO and finished in the Top 25.

A third place finish for Fowler last weekend at the CJ Cup was great to see but he’s still got a long way to go.  He held the 54 hole led before shooting a final round 71 and settling for third.  This is a course that should fit his game with heavier leanings towards chipping and putting.  He did not participate in the 2019 ZOZO.  I will say I don’t love the dramatic price increase, he hasn’t earned the right to be $9800 once again but here we are.  

Oh man, you know I’ll never recommend Keegan for a cash lineup but he’s always in play for GPPs.  He’s coming off of another up and down season in 2020-2021 and nothing has changed early on this season.  Bradley missed the cut at the Sanderson and finished 32nd last week at the CJ Cup.  Keegan finished 13th in his trip to the 2019 ZOZO.  If he can get that Top 10 Strokes Gained Tee to Green and Approach game back from last season, he’ll make noise this weekend.  

The 34 year old had a terrific 2020-2021 season on the PGA Tour.  While he is still chasing that first career victory, he did score four Top 10 finishes and already has a Top 15 this season.  He’s missed just one cut over his last 12 starts dating back to May.  He finished last season Top 20 in Putting, Top 30 in Around the Green and Top 50 in both Tee to Green and Approach, that’s a pretty balanced attack.  He should have no problems scoring at Accordia this weekend. 

Pan is off to a terrific start this season starting with an 11th at the Sanderson and 6th at the Fortinet.  Oh and he picked up a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics as well.  He ranks Top 12 in Strokes Gained: Approach, Putting and Total.  Before this hot start, he had missed the cut in four of his last five starts.  I guess he just needed a fresh start.  He did participate in the 2019 ZOZO but finished 59th.  I think he makes a nice GPP play this weekend.  

I know I personally had high expectations for him heading into 2020-2021 but it was a mixed back of success and disappointments.  He’s started this season very similarly with a 66th at the Fortinet, Missed Cut at the Sanderson and a 6th place finish at the Shriners.  Griffin finished 11th at the 2020 ZOZO at Sherwood.  I like him this weekend because he’s got the approach (37th in 2021) and putting (34th in 2021) to put himself in the mix come Sunday.

He was consistently one of my favorite plays when the field is on the weaker side.  4th at the Barracuda (12th in 2020), 15th at the Barbasol, 4th at the John Deere, and 26th at the Bermuda.  He finished 22nd at the ZOZO in 2019.  This would not be considered a weak field but it’s a small field.  51st at the Fortinet was not ideal and a missed cut after that but did bounce back in a big way with a 3rd at the Shriners.  He finished last season Top 60 in both Greens in Regulation and Scoring Average and made the cut in six of his last seven starts with two Top 10s. 

This is a name you should keep on your radar because he’s going to become a force on golf’s world stage.  This former number one amateur in the world already has three wins on the Japanese tour.  While he hasn’t had a lot of success yet in his few PGA Tour starts, I have a feeling that will change soon.  He participated in this event in 2020 at Sherwood and finished 41st but now he gets to come home to give it a second try.  I love him in my GPPs this weekend.  

This is a name you should keep on your radar because he’s going to become a force on golf’s world stage.  This former number one amateur in the world already has three wins on the Japanese tour.  While he hasn’t had a lot of success yet in his few PGA Tour starts, I have a feeling that will change soon.  He participated in this event in 2020 at Sherwood and finished 41st but now he gets to come home to give it a second try.  I love him in my GPPs this weekend.  

He is one of the easiest guys to like on the PGA Tour.  Higgs shot a final round 67 to score a Top 10 finish at the CJ Cup which followed his 27th at the Shriners.  He did participate in the 2020 ZOZO at Sherwood but finished 54th.  When you look at the strengths in his game, it’s chipping and putting.  I believe he can pay off his $7500 price tag without a problem.  

Oh Matthew, why did you forsake me?  This guy was a terrific find last season early in the year but things started fading during the summer.  He finished 14th in his last start at the Shriners.  NeSmith is a premiere ball striker finishing Top 12 in Strokes Gained: Approach last season.  I’m going to jump back in on Matt especially at this price tag.  

Sung participated in the 2019 ZOZO at Accordia and finished 17th.  He has made the cut in six of his last seven starts with a Top 15 at the Wyndham and Top 30 at the Shriners.  He currently ranks Top 50 in Putting and Top 80 in Approach, but remember there are less than 80 players in this field.  He’s my bargain basement option of the week.