Steve Palmer's free Zozo Championship predictions & golf betting tips

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When to bet on the Zozo Championship

By 12.45am on Wednesday night

Where can I watch the Zozo Championship

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 4am on Thursday

Steve Palmer's Zozo Championship predictions

Collin Morikawa
6.5pts each-way 7-1 Hills

Takumi Kanaya
1.5pts each-way 80-1 bet365

Kensei Hirata
1pt each-way 100-1 Hills, Power

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Steve Palmer's Zozo Championship preview

Xander Schauffele has been chalked up as a short-price favourite for the Zozo Championship, but motivation may be an issue for the world number two as a long year nears its conclusion. He has been in the thick of things for so long – the US PGA, the US Open, the Open, the Olympics, the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Presidents Cup – and may be seeing this trip to Japan as a relaxing holiday.

Hideki Matsuyama may not be fully invested in the event, either, and both men may prepare in relatively carefree fashion. The Japanese ace was fully focused early in this tournament, finishing runner-up to Tiger Woods in the inaugural edition, then winning two years later, but the local hero has been lacklustre and tailed off in the last two renewals. Given he had back problems during the FedEx playoffs, the short prices against Matsuyama's name can also be avoided.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Collin Morikawa 7-1

A successful title defence may be on the cards for Collin Morikawa, who is made for the Narashino assignment. Accurate iron-play is the key to conquering this venue and Morikawa is a modern-day great in this department of the game.

Morikawa has improved this season in other areas, becoming a more complete player, sharper on and around the greens. That showed in the Presidents Cup last time out as the Californian ace scored four points from five matches for Team USA. He had three different partners and won a point with each of them, before defeating Adam Scott in the Sunday singles.

Morikawa will be frustrated that the Presidents Cup is the only prize he has got his hands on this year and some overdue glory as an individual could be coming for the determined 27-year-old this week. He ended a long victory drought with a six-shot romp at Narashino 12 months ago and can use the event in the same fashion again.

Morikawa, proud of his Japanese ancestry and highly motivated for the Zozo, has been hugely consistent this year, finishing third in the Masters, fourth in the US PGA, runner-up in the Memorial, 14th in the US Open and 16th in the Open. He was the lowest 72-hole scorer in his last event as an individual – the Tour Championship – having carded rounds of 66, 63, 67 and 66. Scottie Scheffler lifted the trophy at East Lake, but only because of his handicap start – Morikawa outscored the world number one by two shots. He can upstage Schauffele and Matsuyama in the Zozo for the second year running.

Next best bet

Takumi Kanaya 80-1

Former world number one amateur Takumi Kanaya looks a cracking each-way bet in his homeland. He won on the Japan Tour when still an amateur in 2019 and has triumphed seven times on his home circuit, as well as once on the Asian Tour. At the age of 26, Kanaya may be ready for a life-changing Zozo Championship victory.

Kanaya finished seventh on his Zozo debut in 2021. This time he tees up bursting with form, having won twice this year, most recently with a playoff success on the Japan Tour at the start of this month. Twelve of his last 18 tournaments have yielded a top-20 finish and he was fourth in the Japan Open last time out.

Other selection

Kensei Hirata 100-1

Another rising star of Japanese golf can be followed each-way at juicy odds in a 78-man field with no cut. Kensei Hirata turned pro in 2021 and made his Japan Tour breakthrough in May last year, bravely defeating Keita Nakajima in a playoff, then winning the Japan PGA Championship two months later.

Hirata finished sixth on his Zozo debut last year, improving his score each day with rounds of 71, 69, 68, 66. This time he can hit the ground running, with more course knowledge, fewer nerves, and even more recent success behind him.

Hirata's first victory of this year came in July – and he has added another three Japan Tour titles since. The 23-year-old is growing in self-belief, has rocketed to 110th in the world rankings, and has little to fear in a field which weakens quickly below the market principals.

Course guide for the Zozo Championship

• Course Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, Chiba, Japan
• Prize money $8.5m ($1.53m to the winner)
• Length 7,079 yards
• Par 70 – three par-fives; ten par-fours; five par-threes
• Field 78 (no cut)
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Xander Schauffele (2), Collin Morikawa (4), Hideki Matsuyama (7), Sahith Theegala (13), Sungjae Im (22)
• Course records - 72 holes 261 Tiger Woods (2019) 18 holes 62 Andrew Putnam (2022)
• Course winners taking part Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa
• When to bet By 12.45am on Wednesday night
• When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 4am on Thursday
• Time difference Japan is eight hours behind the UK and Ireland
• Last week – Shriners Children's Open 1 JT Poston (35-1), 2 D Ghim (60-1), T3 M Schmid (50-1), R Hoey (100-1), T5 D Thompson (28-1), KH Lee (100-1), M Kim (150-1)
• Course type Parkland
• Course overview The inaugural Zozo was staged at Narashino in 2019 – won by Tiger Woods – but the 2020 event was moved to Sherwood Country Club in California because of Covid travel issues. The last three Zozo Championships have been at Narashino. This is a tight, tree-lined layout with numerous doglegs, and water in play on five holes. There are two greens on each hole (only one of each will be used each day, with free drops off the other) and they are all relatively small
• Story of last year Collin Morikawa cruised to a six-shot success to end a worldwide victory drought of almost two years
• Weather forecast Temperatures mostly in the low-20s. Periods of light rain early in the event. Light to moderate breezes
• Type of player suited to the challenge Three of the best iron-players in the game – Tiger Woods, Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa – have triumphed at Narashino. Tee-to-green accuracy seems the key to success
• Key attribute Accuracy

Steve Palmer's Zozo Championship key stat

All four winners of the Zozo at Narashino had already won a PGA Tour event outside of the United States

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For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.