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Hideki Matsuyama Aiming to Return to Form at the PGA ZOZO Championship

Although he's been dealing with back issues, Hideki Matsuyama says he's ready to contend for the ZOZO Championship title in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture.

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2023

Jim Armstrong

Hideki Matsuyama hits a bunker shot during a practice round for the ZOZO Championship on October 17, 2023, at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture. (ⒸSANKEI)

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Hideki Matsuyama will be looking to return to form as the crowd favorite when the 2023 PGA ZOZO Championship begins on Thursday, October 19 in Chiba Prefecture.

The only PGA Tour event in Japan, this year's competition at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club features 16 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Matsuyama won the ZOZO Championship in 2021 and will be bidding for his first victory on the PGA Tour since winning the Sony Open in Hawaii in January of 2022. He has gone 13 straight starts without a top-10 finish.

The 31-year-old native of Ehime Prefecture has a total of eight PGA Tour wins, including the Masters in 2021. He withdrew with a back injury from the BMW Championship in late August but says he has been feeling better since then.

"Of course, the goal is to win the title," Matsuyama said after a practice round on Tuesday. "If I can do what I have done in the past few months, I feel I am moving in the right direction."

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