Golf

Taylor Moore Grabs a 1-Stroke Lead After the 1st Round of ZOZO Championship

Hideki Matsuyama struggled on the first day of the ZOZO Championship, but Japan Open Golf Championship winner Shugo Imahira had a strong start.

by
Jim Armstrong
October 24, 2024

INZAI, Chiba Prefecture ― American Taylor Moore fired an opening round 7-under-par 63 on Thursday, October 24 to take a one-stroke lead at the ZOZO Championship, the only PGA Tour event in Japan.

The highlight of the day for Moore came when he chipped in just over 100 feet for an eagle on the 562-yard 18th ― his ninth hole of the round.

"I hit a good 3-wood off the tee," Moore said. "I had a 5-iron in, I just missed the green short and left it in a good spot."

Added Moore, "I had plenty of green to work with. I hit a nice chip shot and it went in."

Moore's 63 also featured three straight birdies from the par-5 No 6 to close out his round and finish one stroke ahead of Colombia's Nico Echavarria and fellow Americans Max Greyserman and Eric Cole, who all shot 64.

Moore and Echavarria each have one victory on the PGA Tour. Greyserman and Cole are seeking their first.

CT Pan and Kevin Yu of Taiwan were two strokes off the pace after 65s at the par-70 Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

Local favorite and 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama had an erratic first round that included five bogeys and four birdies for a 1-over 71.

Imahira Opens the ZOZO Championship with a 4-Under 66

Shugo Imahira, who won the Japan Open Golf Championship on October 13, recovered from two early bogeys with five birdies to finish in a large group of golfers tied for seventh at 4-under 66.

Other Japanese players tied for seventh were Taisei Shimizu, Takumi Kanaya and Ryosuke Kinoshita.

Among that group was Justin Thomas, a two-time major champion and holder of 15 PGA Tour victories who is making his first appearance at the ZOZO Championship since the inaugural tournament in 2019.

Like Matsuyama, defending champion Collin Morikawa struggled in the opening round and finished tied for 35th after a 1-under 69 that included a double bogey on the par-5 No 6, another bogey and four birdies.

Disappointing Start for Schauffele

Xander Schauffele, the current PGA and British Open champion, faltered with a 3-over 73.

Schauffele took an 8 on the par-4 ninth when his tee shot landed behind a tree.

"I should have just taken an unplayable, but I was an idiot and tried to hit it," Schauffele said. "Then I was stubborn and then tried to hit it again, then finally took an unplayable."

Schauffele, who won the gold medal in the golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics, said he will try to learn from the experience.

"I think having false confidence helps at times, and in those spots it really doesn't," he said. "So I'll definitely try to assess it a little bit better next time and really think if I can get it out or not."

The ZOZO Championship features a 78-man field that will compete in four rounds with no cut.

This tournament has a total purse of $8.5 million USD (about ¥1.3 billion JPY), including $1.53 million (¥229 million) for the winner.