Hideki Matsuyama win’s the Zozo Championship by a record margin
Hideki Matsuyama becomes the first-ever Japanese golfer to win the Zozo Championship.
After two years, Japan finally has their very own winner on Japan’s only PGA Tour event – Zozo Championship.
Sharing the lead in early stages:
At the start of round four, Cameron Tringale got a score of two under par in his front nine to move -11 whereas Hideki managed only one under par in his front nine to move -11 thus, Hideki was no longer the sole leader of the event as Cameron was sharing the lead with Hideki.
Losing the lead:
America’s Cameron, who was chasing his first-ever PGA Tour victory at the Zozo Championship, got a dream start of his back nine as Cameron scored a birdie of his first hole (10) to move -12 and overtake the home-favourite – Hideki, to lead the event by one stroke while Hideki stayed at -11 following a par on the same hole (10). For the first time after round two, a new player (Cameron Tringale) was leading the Zozo Championship.
Co-Leader:
After losing the lead on the par-4 10th hole Hideki, made an instant comeback as he made a brilliant left to right birdie putt on the par-4 11th hole to move -12, share the lead with Cameron who scored a par on that hole (11).
Becoming Sole Leader:
One hole later, Hideki scored another birdie on the 13th hole to move -13, became the sole leader of the tournament, one stroke ahead of Cameron who was at -12.
Hideki scored a par on the 14th but on the next hole (15), Hideki scored his third birdie of the day, to move -14, increasing the lead to two.
Last two holes:
According to Golf Channel, the 17th hole was the fourth most difficult hole in Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. The hole was difficult for the top two golfers as well, because both Hideki, Cameron missed the fairway, their second shot was even worse as both missed the greens of hole 17, had to play a chip shot to bring the ball back on the greens.
Subsequently, both missed their fourth shot for par, thus both golfers three-putted for a bogey. Hideki, Cameron’s overall score after hole 17 was -13, -11 respectively so, the gap was still of two strokes.
On the final hole (18), Cameron scored his second consecutive bogey on the 18th to move -10, share second place with Brendon Steele.
However, Hideki played the 18th hole remarkably well, by scoring an eagle on the last hole to move -15 and win the Zozo Championship.
Hideki won the Zozo Championship by a record margin of 5 strokes.
In the three editions of the Zozo Championship, Hideki has the highest margin of victory in the Zozo Championship because the previous two editions were won by 3 strokes (Tiger Woods), 1 stroke (Patrick Cantlay).
List of Zozo Championship winners:
| Year |
Winner |
Total Aggregate Score |
Par |
Margin of Victory |
| 2021 |
Hideki Matsuyama |
265 |
-15 |
5 Strokes |
| 2020 |
Patrick Cantlay |
265 |
-23 |
1 Stroke |
| 2019 |
Tiger Woods |
261 |
-19 |
3 Strokes |
Leaderboard of top three:
| Rank |
Name |
Round 4 Score |
Par |
| 1. |
Hideki Matsuyama |
65 |
-15 |
| 2. |
Cameron Tringale |
69 |
-10 |
| T2. |
Brendan Steele |
66 |
-10 |
[COVER PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES]
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October 24, 2021 - By Dhruv Trivedi