The First Look: Keegan Bradley returns to where career reinvention began at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP

FIELD NOTES:
Bradley aims to make history as he defends his title at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. This marks Bradley’s return to the course after finishing tied for ninth at the TOUR Championship. He has consistently performed well at the ZOZO, finishing inside the top 15 every year with two top 10s.
A trio of American Ryder Cuppers – Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Rickie Fowler – are also making their comeback. Fowler, last year’s 54-hole leader, is hoping for a strong performance. Schauffele returns after his second-place finish at the TOUR Championship.
Japan’s beloved golfer, Hideki Matsuyama, is back in action on the TOUR. Matsuyama, who won this event in 2021, took a break due to a back injury after the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This marked the end of his impressive nine-year streak of playing in the TOUR Championship.
Sungjae Im returns following his participation in the TOUR Championship. Im partnered with Si Woo Kim to win the team gold medal at the Asian Games, with Im also earning the individual silver medal.
Sahith Theegala, the winner of the Fortinet Championship and his first TOUR title, is also in the field. Theegala performed well with a fifth-place finish in Japan last year.
The field will also showcase Japan’s top male golfers, led by Matsuyama. Takumi Kanaya, a former world No. 1-ranked amateur, will make his 21st PGA TOUR appearance. Kaito Onishi, the 2018 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and recent pro, will play for the fifth time on TOUR.
Furthermore, eleven spots in the field will be determined on Sunday. The top eight players from the Japan Golf Tour’s money list at the Japan Open Golf Championship will earn a start, with three additional sponsor exemptions reserved for Japan Golf Tour members.