Zozo Championship: What to know for the TOUR's trip to Japan

This week, the TOUR will make the journey to Chiba, Japan, for the Zozo Championship, where home favorite Hideki Matsuyama will look to defend his title.

Though it's only in its fourth season, the Zozo Championship has already produced one of the TOUR's biggest moments when Tiger Woods captured his record-tying 82nd PGA TOUR win in 2019.

Just a 78-man field, the tournament will have four rounds and no cut as players compete for 500 FedEx Cup points and a portion of the $11-million purse.

When: Oct. 13-16
Where: Chiba, Japan

How to watch

Last year's result

This time last year, Matsuyama recorded all four rounds under par on his way to a five-stroke victory in Japan. It marked the first of two wins by Matsuyama in the 2021-22 season and the seventh victory of his TOUR career.

Matsuyama grabbed the 36-hole lead and continued to lead for the rest of the tournament en route to his win.

Cameron Tringale and Brendan Steele finished tied for second, while Matt Wallace, Sebastian Munoz, and Mackenzie Hughes finished tied for fourth, nine strokes back.

Recent winners

2022: Hideki Matsuyama (-15) over Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale
2021: Patrick Cantlay (-23) over Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas
2020: Tiger Woods (-19) over Hideki Matsuyama

The field

Xander Schauffele is the top-ranked player in the field as the world No. 6. Three other players inside the world top-15 are in the field this week, with No. 9 Collin Morikawa, No. 11 Viktor Hovland, and No. 15 Tom Kim.

Matsuyama will return to defend his title in Japan as the only past winner of the event making the trip this week.

Other notable names in the field include recent Sanderson Farms winner Hughes, world No. 16 Cameron Young, and No. 28 Tyrrell Hatton. Recent Presidents Cup players in the field include Cam Davis, Sebastian Munoz, Mito Pereira, and Corey Conners.

Notable groups (all times ET)

Group: Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton
Wednesday - 8:34 p.m. (No. 10 tee)
Thursday - 9:40 p.m.

Group: Sungjae Im, Tom Kim, Cam Davis
Wednesday - 9:40 p.m. (No. 1 tee)
Thursday - 8:23 p.m.

Group: Collin Morikawa, Mackenzie Hughes, Sebastian Munoz
Wednesday - 9:29 p.m. (No. 1 tee)
Thursday - 8:12 p.m.

Group: Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young, Sepp Straka
Wednesday - 8:23 p.m. (No. 10 tee)
Thursday - 9:29 p.m.

The course

Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club is a 7,079-yard par 70 in Chiba, Japan. The course has hosted the Zozo Championship twice in its three previous installments. The only year it didn't host was the 2020-21 season when it was played at Sherwood Country Club in California.

The course was designed by Shinya Fujita and first opened in 1965. Woods holds the tournament 72-hole record with 261 in 2019.

Betting corner

Xander Schauffele +800
Sungjae Im +1100
Collin Morikawa +1400
Hideki Matsuyama +1400
Tom Kim +1400
Cameron Young +1600
Viktor Hovland +1800
Tyrrell Hatton +2500
Corey Conners +3000
Si Woo Kim +3000
Tommy Fleetwood +3000
Keegan Bradley +3300
Scott Stallings +3300
Tom Hoge +3300
Mito Pereira +3500

Odds via theScore Bet