PGA Tour event in Japan to relocate to California this year

Zozo Championship is moving from Japan to California this year because of COVID-19 pandemic, making it anchor of a West Coast Swing in fall portion of schedule that is certain to attract strong fields.

$8 million tournament will be played Oct. 22-25 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, with Tiger Woods as defending champion on a course where he has won five times.

tour and Zozo Inc. anunced decision Monday night.

It will be called Zozo Championship at Sherwood, a similar title to South Korean event moving to Las Vegas week before. That one will be called CJ Cup at Show Creek. Both tournaments will return to Asia next fall.

temporary rearrangement was a big coup for tour, especially since Zozo and CJ Group primarily do business in Japan and South Korea, respectively. Along with concerns about coronavirus, players were reluctant to go to Asia this fall with Masters having moved to v. 12-15.

w three-tournament swing starts with Shriners Hospital for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Oct. 8-11, followed by CJ Cup at Show Creek and n Zozo Championship at Sherwood. last two have limited fields and cut.

Top players who have t previously played in Asia, like Jon Rahm, have indicated y will be at tournaments in Las Vegas or sourn California, likely both, as an ideal place to play ahe of Masters.

Woods won his holiday exhibition, World Challenge, five times at Sherwood. Jack Nicklaus design located among foothills on or side of Malibu first came to toriety as home of Shark Shootout run by Greg rman. It also hosted a PGA Tour Champions event.

Zozo Championship last year was first time PGA Tour std an official event in Japan. Woods won by three shots over Hideki Matsuyama for his 82nd career PGA Tour victory, tying Sam Sne for record.

While it is moving to America, Zozo Championship will operate as if it’s in Japan. 78-man field will feature top 60 players available from this year’s final FedEx Cup standings, 10 players from Japan Golf Tour and eight exemptions — four from PGA Tour, three from Japan and one unrestricted.

Im credits: AP