PGA Tour preview: Zozo Championship

This weekend's Zozo Championship could see a historical milestone, as Tiger Woods goes for his 83rd PGA Tour win.

Currently in a tie with Sam Snead for most victories on Tour, Woods won the Zozo last year, when he defeated Hideki Matsuyama by three strokes. It was Woods’ only win of the 2019-2020 season.

Unlike last year's event, though, the 2020 Zozo Championship has temporarily relocated from Narashino Country Club in Japan to Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately for Woods, a +3000 longshot this weekend, the change could work in his favor, considering he has won five times on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

Woods comfortable at Sherwood

From 2000-2013, Sherwood was home to the Hero World Challenge, a limited-field tournament that featured 18 of the top-ranked golfers, which was hosted by Woods as a benefit for his foundation.

In 12 appearances at Sherwood, Woods won the Challenge in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2011, and has finished worse than second just twice. On the par-72 course, his scoring average, over 48 rounds, is 68.46.

Like many Nicklaus courses, solid iron play will be key, and accuracy will play a larger factor than distance off the tee. In addition to 51 bunkers splayed throughout the 7,073-yard course, water looms on eight holes.

The layout features five par 5s, five par 3s, eight par 4s (mostly in the range of 400 to 450 yards), and fast Bentgrass greens.

Top players in Zozo field

World No. 2 Jon Rahm is the +900 favorite in the 78-player, no-cut field. Rahm was also favored in last week’s 78-man CJ Cup and finished 17th at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.

Jason Kokrak won the CJ Cup and is a +4000 longshot at the Zozo. Xander Schauffele (+1000) landed second on the leaderboard and is a top contender at Sherwood.

Last week at Shadow Creek, Schauffele ranked second in par 4 efficiency from 400-450 yards, and third in strokes gained putting on the Bentgrass course. He also ranked in the top 30 in both par 5 scoring and strokes gained approaching the green, while he hit just 44.6% of fairways.

If Russell Henley (+4000) can keep his form from last week, he'll be another strong play at the Zozo. Henley ranked first in par 4 efficiency from 400-450 yards last week, as well as ninth in driving accuracy, 13th in strokes gained approach, and second in strokes gained putting on Bentgrass.

The course record at Sherwood is 61, achieved by Dustin Johnson in 2014. Johnson also set the course record at Shadow Creek, the host of last week’s event, but missed the CJ Cup because of a positive COVID-19 test. He will again sit out the Zozo, while Tony Finau (+2800) will make his return, after he tested positive for the coronavirus in early October.

The winner of the Zozo Championship will receive 500 FedEx Cup points and $1.44 million of the $8 million purse.

You can catch all the action on the Golf Channel or stream the event on PGA Tour Live.

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Find the latest odds on the Zozo Championship at BetAmerica!