Zozo Championship 2020 | PGA Tour
Let’s get you set to see some green screens on DraftKings this weekend. Once again the PGA Tour has relocated an event with the cancellation of the Asian swing. With travel to Japan out of the question, the 2020 ZOZO Championship will plant its flag at the Sherwood Country Club, in Thousand Oaks, California and Tiger Woods is in the field.
What's up golf addicts! Friend of the podcast, AC here, checking in week to week to provide a quick preview of the upcoming PGA Tour event.
Though it seems he has forgotten about us up north, Canada will take a win last week after Jason Kokrak broke through the field at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. The bright lights of Las Vegas were no distraction for the 35-year old journeyman who shook off Xander Schauffele for his first win on tour.
Big props to our very own, Pat Perry, who once again picked a winner, cashing an 80-1 outright ticket on his “Pat’s Not That Anyone Really Cares Betting Card.” We do care, Pat. We do. And if any of you don’t, a 100-1 Hudson Swafford first round leader bet and the latest Kokrak smash should have you reconsidering.
Now let’s get to Tiger. I mean the ZOZO.
Sherwood Country Club Course Preview
“Many people are trying hard to be invincible, and most of the time they fail invisible, while few find their spotlight.” In the heart of Sherwood Forest where outlaw hero, Robin Hood, once raised a rebellion to rob the rich and feed the poor lies a picturesque golf course where the spotlight will shine on someone come Sunday evening.
The last two weeks the field has only moved a matter of a few miles to their new destination, this week the players stay on the West Coast and visit the star-studded celebrity club known as Sherwood Country Club. This Jack Nicklaus design is most known for the star power of its members which includes Sylvester Stallone, Tom Selleck, Jack Nicholson, Will Smith, Justin Timberlake, Joe Pesci and many more.
Spreading out at just over 7,000 yards, this Par 72 will be shredded by much of the field this week with scoring opportunities on five par 5s. Yes, five. And five Par 3s as well. Almost all of the field will be able to reach in two with at least one Par 4 reachable off the tee. With that in mind, Par 5 scoring and Par 3 scoring should not be ignored.
Like much of Nicklaus’ designs, second shots into the green are very important and placing your tee shot, even more so. Jack doesn’t mess around when it comes to proper angles and looks into the greens and his fast, bent grass putting surfaces will not reward wayward approaches either. Fairways gained and Fantasy National Golf Club’s opportunities gained stat will factor once again.
Though this is the first time Sherwood Country Club will host an official PGA Tour event, the venue was the host of Tiger’s Hero World Challenge from 2000-2013. Everyone teeing it up this week is guaranteed four rounds provided they don’t fall apart *cough* Jason Day… Just 78 players will vie for the title which Woods’ currently holds. The field will be much of the same as last week. The top 60 in Fedex Cup rankings to end last season, some sponsor exemptions, and some of the best Japanese tour players have also received an invitation.
The Picks & Fades
Each week we will give you a play and a fade from each DraftKings salary range.
$9k+:
DB: Play - Tyrell Hatton | Fade - Patrick Cantlay
Pat: Play - Patrick Reed | Fade - Tyrrell Hatton
AC: Play - Xander Schauffele | Fade - Tony Finau
$8k:
DB: Play - Harris English | Fade - Sungjae Im
Pat: Play - Harris English | Fade - Tommy Fleetwood
AC: Play - Russell Henley | Fade - Tommy Fleetwood
$7k:
DB: Play - Brian Harman | Fade - Gary Woodland
Pat: Play - Cam Smith | Fade - Gary Woodland
AC: Play - Ryan Palmer | Fade - Jason Day
$6k:
DB: Play - Adam Hadwin, Joel Dahmen, Mackenzie Hughes
Pat: Play - Kevin Kisner, Alex Noren, Kevin Streelman
AC: Play - Kevin Streelman, Mark Hubbard, Dylan Frittelli
OUT: Dustin Johnson (Covid-19) has once again withdrawn from the field.
IN: Matt Kuchar (1st alternate)
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