The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP is on deck this week with a Wednesday 7:50 PM ET start time. Many golfers are making their first start in the Japan-based tournament, but a few guys I’m targeting in the first-round leader market have had success here and great familiarity. I am targeting guys with a combination of these qualities: great ball strikers, great off-the-tee, and great putters. Backing fast starters in the first round is step one. I am also betting on guys who are in great form. Whenever backing the FRL market, I generally like to keep these small, with bet sizes around 0.1 units. Here’s a look at the guys I am targeting this week:
Keegan Bradley +3300
If you want to talk about a fast starter, you must look at Bradley. He’s a fast starter and one of the leaders in Strokes Gained: Total Round 1. He’s had success here, finishing T7 in 2022 and T13 in 2020. He’s had a few close FRL calls early in the season and a few sub-66 rounds here. His game makes sense as to why he’s excelled here. He’s long and accurate off the tee, gains a ton of strokes on approach, and is excellent on par 3s. His price is great, and he’s worth a sprinkle.
Tom Hoge +4000
BLT here checking in for the “Tom Hoge Fan Club!” Hoge was a beast at Shriners, cashing his top 10 and top 20 tickets. This week we are asking for a big start from him. Hoge is third in my FRL model, and a lot has to do with how well he plays the par 4s and his great ball-striking abilities. Whenever we are at a ball strikers paradise, it’s important to look at Hoge. Looking over the courses where he’s had success, they match the modeling at this course.
K.H. Lee +4000
TPC Lee is an auto bet at courses that are either TPC or mask TPC courses. Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club has a course comparison like TPC River Highland. Lee is a great ball striker and a guy you want on your FRL card. He’s fifth on my FRL model, and one thing that stands out the most is his scoring on par 4s with distances of 450-500, which he ranks first. He already is dangerous with his driver; if his putter gets hot, it’s almost a wrap that he will get off to a fast start.
Kevin Streelman +6600
I faded Streelman last week, which was a mistake on my end. Streelman’s had success in his previous two tournaments with a T20 at Shriners and a T24 at Sanderson Farms. He’s not the sharpest ball striker in the field, yet he still finds his way toward the top. He’s the typical guy you’d probably look at a course that favors bombers. He’s not overly long off the tee, but he’s deadly accurate and hits a ton of greens in regulation. In the 4th round in 2020, he had the course low round, proving he could score here.
Cameron Young +2500
I honestly didn’t care if Young was a fit for my FRL model or not; I made up my mind that I was backing him FRL. He’s crazy long off the tee giving him a massive advantage while having just a wedge in his hand. He’s excellent on approach and scores very well. He’s a fast starter with a handful FRLs from last season. He doesn’t project highly, but that isn’t stopping me from firing away on his FRL.
Sebastian Munoz +4000
Without going too crazy with my FRL selections, I had to add the ZOZO 2020 FRL. He’s a great golfer at courses that can turn into birdie fest. Coming off a successful Presidents Cup, Munoz should have much confidence while playing here. His game, in terms of strengths he’s pretty well-balanced. He’s a good putter, but he’s also long enough off the tee to be dangerous; he’s accurate and onc again, is a guy you want in a possible birdie fest. I was torn between him and Sepp Straka for FRL, so he better go out and shine.
