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Zozo Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Accordia

By Mike Randleman

INZAI, JAPAN - OCTOBER 21: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during The Challenge: Japan Skins at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on October 21, 2019 in Inzai, Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
INZAI, JAPAN - OCTOBER 21: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during The Challenge: Japan Skins at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on October 21, 2019 in Inzai, Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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JEJU, SOUTH KOREA – OCTOBER 19: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan walks to the 18th green during the third round of the CJ Cup @Nine Bridges at the Club a Nine Bridges on October 19, 2019 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

One would imagine there would be some nerves for Hideki Matsuyama. Japan’s top golfer is in the spotlight this week for the first PGA Tour event in his homeland. He looked a little off in Monday’s skins game at Narashino, taking fourth place out of four against Tiger, Rory and Jason Day winning one skin for $20,000.

That withstanding, it still gave him a glimpse at the course in competition. Further, he’s been playing pretty well lately in the traditional 72-hole stroke play format.

The 27-year-old finished T-3 last week at the CJ Cup (69-70-69-65). We all know about his great ball striking (3rd last season in strokes gained tee to green, 1.487), but he made some good par saves to keep his round going on Sunday. He was 12th in SG around the green last season (.347).

Matsuyama played one other time this fall at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas and carded a T-16 (68-67-68-65).

Countryman Shugo Imahira is ranked 52nd in the world, but he has nowhere near the pedigree of Matsuyama. I see Hideki as the only Japanese player with a chance to win this week, and he should be in contention come Sunday at the Zozo Championship.

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