"Reigning champion Collin Morikawa anticipates challenging competition at Zozo"
The Zozo Championship was won by Collin Morikawa with a six-shot lead last year. This year, he enters the tournament as the world's fourth-ranked player.
However, Morikawa is not underestimating the competition at this week's event at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Morikawa stated, "Winning is tough. You have to learn how to win. Just being able to win again and being on top of that leaderboard at the end of Sunday, that's everything to me." He also expressed his excitement for one of his favorite tournaments of the year.
Fellow American Max Homa also shared his appreciation for the course, saying, "It's in great shape. The bunkers and the rough and everything's amazing." However, he also acknowledged the challenges of the course, with its thick rough and narrow fairways.
Homa, ranked No. 27, had a challenging year but is looking forward to the upcoming season. He stated, "I'm excited for the things I've gotten better at and I'm just going to continue to work on the things I struggled with last year."
Before the Presidents Cup in September, Homa parted ways with his longtime coach, Mark Blackburn, in order to take more ownership of his golf swing. He admitted to feeling a bit rusty, but is happy with the progress he has made.
The Zozo Championship is the fifth of eight tournaments on the FedEx Cup Fall schedule, with the top 125 players retaining exempt status for 2025. The field includes 14 members of the Japan Golf Tour Organization.
Morikawa and Homa will be joined by top players such as Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, and Xander Schauffele.