ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP Daily Fantasy Picks and Predictions: Building Off Collin Morikawa
ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP Daily Fantasy Picks and Predictions: Building Off Collin Morikawa
The PGA Tour makes its long-awaited return to Japan for the ZOZO Championship held at Narashino Country Club. After rerouting the event in 2020 due to Covid, Narashino is back where we saw Tiger Woods infamously win #82 in 2019. The winning score that year was -19, and Woods cleared the field by 3 strokes in an absolute ball-striking clinic on the Japanese Zoysia.
Narashino has some unique and fun characteristics, most notable to “double greens” on 17 of the 18 holes. Setups and pins will be predetermined, with both greens being in play for much of the week ahead. It is a relatively shortish par 70 at just a bit over 7,000 total yards. The majority of holes are heavily tree-lined, so finding the fairways will be at a premium this week. There are some doglegs that can be shortened with enough length, but overall, I think accuracy and iron play will determine the winner.
I’m going to focus on Ballstriking and Approach metrics this week, utilizing a combination of the last 12 and 24 rounds played. Other stats that I am factoring in are Driving Accuracy, Opportunities Gained, and recent Around the Green play. We also have another no-cut event this week to factor in.
10k+ Range: Collin Morikawa $11,200
It’s rare that I spring for the top-priced player, but Morikawa rated out substantially better than anyone else in this range for me. He’s the most accurate off the tee by a decent margin. In addition, he leads the field in Opportunities Gained, which is a stat that measures the number of legitimate birdie opportunities a player is giving themselves. His Sunday 62 this past weekend in Las Vegas was also the lowest score of the day, which bodes well for this week.
9k Range: Erik Van Rooyen $9,500
EVR gained a solid 2.8 strokes on Approach last week in Vegas on his way to a top 25 in the desert. He’s very hit or miss off the tee, which is a concern, but when he gets it right, he is able to make major gains on the field. Bentgrass is the only surface in which he gains strokes putting as well. I think he makes a good pivot off of Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley in this range to gain some ownership leverage in a shortened field no-cut event.
8k Range: Lanto Griffin $8,400
The end of last season was undoubtedly horrendous for Lanto, but I’m optimistic after the 6th place finish at the Shriners. Something clicked with the irons as he gained 4.5 strokes on Approach, something he hadn’t done in his previous 19 starts. He’s one of the better Putters in the field, so if he can keep the irons hot, he should be able to roll enough him to hang around the top.
7k Range: Brendon Todd $7,400
The swing season king from 2019 is showing glimpses here and there. Over his last five starts, he has a 10th, 22nd, and three missed cuts which initially doesn’t look promising. If you do a deeper dive, though, he has gained strokes on average from Tee To Green, Approach, Around the Green, and Putting over those five strokes. I like his ability to play from the short grass and stay out of the trees this week. We’re hoping for a good week on Approach, and he should be able to cash in some putts on the greens if so.
6k Range: Kyle Stanley $6,200
Boy, I second-guessed this one quite a bit, but ultimately he just feels too cheap. Forever accurate and consistent with his ball-striking, I’m hoping Stanley can potentially capitalize this week in a soft field. He possesses a fair amount of upside should he have a spike putting performance (ONE TIME!). Stanley, it is. Just don’t check the shot tracker!
Good luck, friends, go cash!
Cuts Made: 54/60
Winners Picked: 3