2021 Zozo Championship Fantasy golf rankings, picks, lineups: Back Collin Morikawa, fade Joaquin Niemann
Written by Lucky Wilson | KGTO Writer on October 19, 2021
The PGA Tour can only hope for an ending as notable as the last one when the tour returns to Narashino Country Club this week for the 2021 Zozo Championship. The last time the tournament was played in Japan, in the inaugural event in 2019, Tiger Woods got his 82nd PGA Tour victory to tie Sam Snead for first all-time. This week, the latest golf phenom comes in with high hopes, as two-time major champion Colin Morikawa is the co-favorite after finishing as the runner-up last week at the CJ Cup. Morikawa and Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Xander Schauffele are listed at 15-2 in the latest 2021 Zozo Championship golf odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Local hero and Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama is third in the odds at 14-1, and Will Zalatoris (18-1) and Rickie Fowler (25-1) also are expected to contend.
Can Schauffele seize the momentum that won him gold just down the road this summer? Or could an overlooked player like Tommy Fleetwood (28-1) or Keegan Bradley (35-1) power your 2021 Zozo Championship Fantasy golf picks to victory? Before locking in 2021 Zozo Championship Fantasy golf lineups, be sure to see the projections and analysis from proven Fantasy expert Riley Gates.
Gates is a writer for 247Sports and has covered a range of sports for nearly five years. He has followed golf closely for much longer and has a profound knowledge of the sport. He also knows what it takes to win, on the course and in Fantasy sports.
Now, Gates has locked in his top 20 golfers for the Zozo Championship 2021. You can only see his Fantasy golf picks and rankings at SportsLine.
2021 Zozo Championship Fantasy golf picks
This week in Japan, Gates is going all-in with Morikawa. The 2021 British Open champ blitzed the Summit Club course last week at the CJ Cup, shooting a 10-under 62 in the final round to finish second behind Rory McIlroy. The 24-year-old turned pro in 2019 and already has eight worldwide wins and is the world’s third-ranked golfer. He led the tour in strokes gained approach and was second tee-to-green last season and hit 70.8 percent of greens (fifth) and 69.6 of fairways (10th). Gates doesn’t like to rely on favorites, but Morikawa is too good to pass up.
On the other hand, Gates is fading Joaquin Niemann, who is among the top five favorites at 22-1. The Chilean is a rising star, but he finished 40th and 45th in his first two events. He was a runner-up three times last season and was in the top 25 in almost half his events (13 of 27), but he has started the new campaign ice-cold. He was 13th in driving distance last season but ranked 123rd in accuracy (59.2 percent fairways hit), and there is trouble to be found if you get too far off the fairway at Narashino. The golf expert doesn’t rank Niemann in his top 10 options.
How to set your 2021 Zozo Championship Fantasy golf rankings
For this week’s event at Narashino Country Club, Gates is recommending a massive long-shot who comes in at well over 60-1. This veteran has a couple of tour victories and is a strong putter, and on these unfamiliar greens that could be the difference. He could pull off a stunning result this week and be the difference in your Fantasy golf picks. Head to SportsLine to see his Fantasy golf picks.
Who wins the Zozo Championship 2021? Who are the top players to target? And which overlooked players can help you win your league this week? Visit SportsLine now to get Riley Gates’ Fantasy golf rankings, all from the Fantasy expert with his finger on the pulse of the game, and find out.
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