Collin Morikawa takes first-round lead at Zozo Championship in Japan

INZAI – Collin Morikawa was afraid that he needed time to shake off the rust, but on Thursday he returned to action after the Ryder Cup and grabbed a one-shot opening-round lead at the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in Japan.

The two-time Major winner took a short break after being part of the American team who

failed to retain the prestigious team trophy following a poor start in Rome in October.

The 26-year-old admitted that “you never know what you’re going to get” after taking the time off but he shot a bogey-free six-under 64 to top the leaderboard at the Narashino Country Club.

“I’ve been working on a few things, trying to get control of the golf ball, spent a lot of time putting yesterday,” said Morikawa, who is looking for his first win on the PGA Tour since the British Open in 2021. “It’s nice to see the work I’ve put in, just kind of recreate that on the golf course.”

Born in Los Angeles, the American is of Japanese-Chinese descent and he added that it would be nice if he could win this competition in Japan. He is a shot ahead of a group of five who include Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa.

“There’s obviously a little bit more meaning to this tournament for me,” he said.

“But look, a win’s a win, I’ll take a win anywhere. I’m doing everything I can the next three days to make sure I give myself the best opportunity to do that.”

Morikawa’s Ryder Cup teammates Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler had contrasting rounds at the 78-man, no-cut event on the outskirts of Tokyo.

Schauffele carded a 67, while Fowler was further back after a one-over 71.

Schauffele has yet to win a title this season but he said he was happy with a “pretty solid” opening round that saw him birdie all three of the course’s par-five holes.

“I’m happy with how I’m driving it, happy with how I’m rolling it – just need to tighten up some of the dispersion from the fairway,” he said.

“With the greens being soft, you feel like you can be really aggressive.”

Defending champion Keegan Bradley, who was passed over for the US Ryder Cup team, joined Schauffele on three under.

Fowler, who finished in a share of second place behind Bradley in 2022, struggled to make an impact and finished with two bogeys to a lone birdie.

Home favourite and 2021 champion Hideki Matsuyama fared better, shooting a one-under 69.

The US$8.5 million (S$11.7 million) event was established in 2019 as the first PGA Tour event in Japan.

Thousands of Japanese fans turned up to watch Tiger Woods win the inaugural title for his 82nd PGA Tour victory – equalling Sam Snead’s 54-year-old record.

In women’s golf, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai carded a bogey-free first round of 10-under 62 to also take a one-shot lead at the BMW Ladies’ Championship in South Korea.

American Alison Lee was second, followed a stroke back by Ayaka Furue of Japan and Minjee Lee of Australia. AFP