Welcome back and welcome to the official EWT start to the 2023/24 season as the blog kick starts the season in earnest at the Zozo in Japan.
Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, par 70, 7,079 yards is the host and last season Keegan Bradley began a stellar season with a win here and that level of ball striking didn't wane all year. As mentioned last year, this course has Muirfield/Augusta similarities, it's a tree lined, tight course, and Tee to green stats generally hold up well here, especially with a 4 inch 1st cut of rough and also to those who travel to Japan well, and enjoy this rare test in the East.
Last year I put up Morikawa who was a little off the pace and throughout the year struggled to hole a thing, and although his game looks back to near it's best, his putting woes show no sign of improvement yet so he goes on the shelf for a while. Matsuyama is a good thing when fit, but he withdrew more times than Oliver Reid at the Priory and I can't have him until he completes at least a month worth of tournaments. Xander no arse Schauffelle heads the market, but he goes in the Tommy Fleetwood category, where if he wins I can live with myself because for a level stake he will never win anyone money but himself and his caddie.
So we start this week with a man on a rise, a return to what looked like the beginning of a stellar career pre 2020. CAM CHAMP is showing great signs of form and fitness already this season. The wrist seems to be fully healed and with a 9th and 18th finish in the last 2 weeks, he is building on his prowess off the tee and a name assigned to him for greatness. His SG approach and putting never light up any runways, he has Augusta form, he plays well in tight conditions and his driver can put him in some unbelievable positions. He finished 8th here last year and was unfit, and he is a superstar in the making still, given his injury woes over the last 2 seasons. I love his low ball flight for this course and his price and 50/1 with Hills 7 places will do just fine for me. He's the starting bet, and we are 4pt's e/w.
Next up I'm boringly predictable again, as we put up old favourite, EMILIANO GRILLO. After a stellar season just gone, Grillo has missed his two last cuts (his first starts since his 29th place finish in the FEDEX play offs) by the barest of margins, and those warm up rounds will have done him more good, than harm. This is a Grillo type course, he's a premium rate ball striker, and no longer a local rate putter, and his odds don't make sense in a field of this quality, especially given his form here last year where he finished 4th. A couple of long putts went in last week, so confidence won't be an issue and he is belting value at 40/1 top 8 with Bet365 and again I'm putting up 5 points e/w.
We can't let the Zozo pass without a Japanese player this week and pick number 3 is a very, VERY, interesting choice. The 21 year old potential starlet RYO HISATSUNE finished 12th here last year. He has been on the DP World tour this year and is about to earn his PGA tour card via there (12th on the road to Dubai rankings), down to a season defining win at Le Golf Nationale in one of the stellar events on that tour. To win such a big event, and so recently, at such a young age has us bloggers sitting up with interest and I thought maybe he wasn't playing this week when I kept seeing some bang average players at shorter odds down the betting list. If there is a sexier price in betting this week than his 70/1, 7 places with Hills, then I haven't seen it and we are 3pts e/w there and watching with great interest.
Bringing up the rear is another EWT favourite and a bloke who's value (price wise) has been greatly diminished after a strong season last year. One of the best iron players on tour last season MARK HUBBARD is a tee to green beast. His strange follow through with the putter doesn't bear out any poor stats with the flat stick, although he isn't high up on the SG due to the amount of looks he gives himself. He shone round Murfield and nearly placed for us at 350/1 last year, He has 5 top 10s in his last 13 events and he is now a much richer and secure Pro who can play with more freedom and I'm tipping him for a win this season. Whether that is here or not is another matter but Hills are leaving a lot of juice in his price also, and at 66/1 7 places I'm 3 points each way with them.
Don't forget with this being in Korea it will be more of a highlights watching opportunity, but the action starts very early on Thursday morning so get the bets on quick.
Here's to another strong season, and maybe a bit more exposure for the thief and more accounts being shut down, with the bookies choosing to run scared rather than ask my advice.
Good luck, and good riddance to Skybet, you bunch of pussies!
TEWT
