Final Day of PGA Tour Zozo Championship in Japan: 5 Under Par, Tying for 2nd with Tringale and Steel
‘Masters Champ’ Hideki Matsuyama is taking a victory pose right after winning the Zozo Championship. Japan=Getty Images/Multibits
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] It was a decisive victory for "Masters Champ" Matsuyama Hideki (Japan).
On the 24th, at Accordia Golf Narashino Golf Club in Chiba Prefecture, Japan (Par 70, 7,041 yards), the final day of the PGA Tour 2021/2022 season 5th event, the Zozo Championship (total prize money $9.95 million), Matsuyama surged with a 5-under-par round to secure a 5-stroke victory (15-under-par 265). This marked his first win of the new season and his 7th career victory, with a winner's prize of $1,791,000 (2.1 billion KRW). The tournament was held in the United States last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned to Japan this year.
What is especially meaningful is that Matsuyama avenged his runner-up finish to "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA), the inaugural champion when the tournament was established in 2019. Starting the day with a 1-stroke lead, he recorded two eagles, three birdies, and two bogeys. He eagled the 6th hole (par 5), and after his first bogey on the 8th hole (par 4), he energized the back nine with birdies on the 11th, 13th, and 15th holes. The bogey on the 17th hole (par 4) did not affect his victory. He even added a "fan service" eagle on the final 18th hole (par 5).
Cameron Tringale's chase stopped at a tie for 2nd place (10-under-par 270). After making 3-under-par over 10 holes to catch up, he then posted pars, and unfortunately made consecutive bogeys on the final 17th and 18th holes. Brendan Steele (USA) also tied for 2nd, while world No. 3 Collin Morikawa (USA) finished tied for 7th (5-under-par 275). From Korea, Lee Kyung-hoon (30) and Kim Si-woo (26) tied for 18th (2-under-par 278), and Kang Sung-hoon (34) tied for 48th (4-over-par 284).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
