PGA TOUR
ZOZO Championship
Bradley Wins ZOZO Championship
Keegan Bradley returned to the winner’s circle after winning the ZOZO Championship at Narashino Country Club in Japan. The 36-year-old American ended a 1498-day winless drought with his previous PGA Tour victory back at the 2018 BMW Championship. Bradley scored his fifth PGA Tour title by one shot over compatriots Rickie Fowler and Andrew Putnam.
Bradley started the final round one shot back from 54-hole leader Fowler. The 2011 PGA Championship moved into the lead after back-to-back birdies at the 5th and 6th holes and headed to the back nine with a narrow one-shot margin over playing partners Fowler and Putnam. He moved two shots clear with his third birdie of the day at the 11th hole. It was one of just four birdies made at the difficult par 4 by the field on Sunday. A late stumble by Bradley with bogeys at holes 14 and 16 allowed Putnam into a share of the lead with two holes to play. Bradley, world No. 44, used his experience to regain his composure making a timely birdie at the 17th hole. Putnam made a bogey at the same hole giving Bradley a two-shot cushion playing the final hole. With his regulation par at the 72nd hole, Bradley signed for a final round 2-under 68 to finish at 15-under.
Fowler and Putnam took a share of second place one shot back at 14-under. Fowler, who was searching for his first win since the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open, produced a scrappy even par round of 70. The 33-year-old is now two wins from nine attempts when holding the solo or joint 54-hole lead. Putnam was aiming for his second PGA Tour title. The 33-year-old finished with a 2-under 68.
Argentine’s Emiliano Grillo finished outright fourth at 13-under. The 30-year-old produced a brilliant 6-under 64 final round to get to 13-under. It was Grillo’s second top 5 result this PGA Tour season after enjoying a T5 at the Sanderson Farms Championship two weeks ago.
Xander Schauffele was the highest ranked player in the field. The world No. 6 produced all four rounds in the 60s including closing the event with a superb 5-under 65. Schauffele finished at 10-under and in a tie for 9th place.
Keita Nakajima, aged 22, was making his debut start on the PGA Tour as a professional. The former No. 1 ranked amateur in the world blasted a sizzling 7-under 63 on Friday. Nakajima scored a 1-under 69 final round to finish at 9-under and in a tie for 12th place.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama was never in contention after opening the event with a 1-over 71 on Thursday. The former Masters champion finished the week at 3-under and in a tie for 40th place.
Cam Davis and Lucas Herbert were the only Australians in the field. Davis posted a final round 1-under 69 to get to 5-under for a T29 finish. Herbert struggled through the first 54 holes with three over par rounds. The Victorian bounced back on Sunday with an impressive 7-under round to finish in a tie for 59th place. The bogey-free round was the best score posted by the field on Sunday.
The PGA Tour moves to South Carolina for next week’s THE CJ CUP to be staged at Congaree Golf Club. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion.
Final Scores
ZOZO Championship
1. Keegan Bradley -15
T2. Andrew Putnam -14
T2. Rickie Fowler -14
4. Emiliano Grillo -13
T5. Hayden Buckley -12
T5. Sahith Theegala -12
T5. Viktor Hovland -12
8. Cameron Champ -11
T9. Xander Schauffele -10
T9. Matthew NeSmith -10
T9. Tom Hoge -10
Australians
T29. Cam Davis -5
T59. Lucas Herbert E
Photo credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
