At the Zozo Championship, the PGA Tour's Most Wins Challenge: Rahm, Thomas, Morikawa, McIlroy All Appear, with Im Sung-jae Leading for Korea
[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "83 PGA Tour wins in total."
'The returned golf emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) has embarked on creating a new history in the global golf world. The PGA Tour Zozo Championship (total prize money $8 million), opening on the night of the 22nd (Korean time) at Sherwood Country Club (par 72, 7006 yards) in Thousand Oaks, California, USA, is the stage where he reached the record-tying most wins (82 wins) held by Sam Snead (USA) with a 3-stroke victory last year. This year, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the event is held in the United States instead of Japan.
Woods reached the top through a Japanese expedition for the first time in 13 years since 2006 last year. It is big news that he achieved 82 wins over 23 years since his first PGA Tour victory at the Las Vegas Invitational in October 1996. He added a special comment, saying, "I met Snead when I was 5 years old," and "In 1981, I played alongside him at the 17th and 18th holes of Calabasas Golf Course in California, and I remember dropping the ball into the water and making a bogey."
This time, it is even more welcome that the event is held at Sherwood. The Tiger Woods Foundation has hosted the special event Hero World Challenge 14 times here, and Woods has swept the winner's cup five times in 2001, 2004, 2006-2007, and 2011, making it his 'home turf.' He was also runner-up five times in 2000, 2002-2003, 2010, and 2014. Experts analyze that "the course is not long, and short game is important, making it a perfect course for Woods."
Woods' physical condition is a variable. He felt back pain during the Genesis Invitational in February, leading to consecutive absences from major matches such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship in March. Subsequently, he finished outside the top 30 in all four tournaments: the Memorial Tournament, PGA Championship, The Northern Trust, and BMW Championship. He even suffered the humiliation of missing the cut at the US Open in September. He revealed his hunter instinct, saying, "There will be opportunities."
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (USA) is absent for two consecutive weeks following a COVID-19 diagnosis, missing The CJ Cup as well, but No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain), No. 3 Justin Thomas, No. 4 Collin Morikawa (both USA), and No. 5 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) have all declared their participation, making the competition for the championship fierce. 'The CJ Cup champion' Jason Kokrak aims for 'back-to-back wins,' while runner-up Xander Schauffele (both USA) dreams of revenge.
'Twist swing' Matthew Wolff (USA) is a 'dark horse.' Locally, the appearance of 50-year-old veteran Phil Mickelson (USA) is a hot topic off the course. He returned after demonstrating extraordinary power by winning the Champions (Senior) Tour's Muni Energy Charity Classic, which ended on the 19th, winning all two appearances. Korea recalls the thrilling memory of Im Sung-jae (22) finishing 3rd in this tournament last year. An Byeong-hun (29, CJ Logistics) will also participate alongside him.
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