FIRST LOOK: Keegan Bradley returns to where his career reinvention began at the ZOZO Championship

Field Notes: Bradley becomes the first golfer to successfully defend his title at the ZOZO Championship. It’s Bradley’s first start since finishing ninth at the Tour Championship and marks Bradley’s fourth start at the ZOZO, where he’s finished in the top 15 each year, with two top 10s … All three of the American rider Cuppers are back in action. First time since Rome Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa And Rickie Fowler All active. Fowler was the 54-hole leader a year ago. It was his first start on the Schaffel Tour after finishing second at the Tour Championship … Japan’s favorite son, Hideki Matsuyama, is back in action on TOUR. Matsuyama, who won the event in 2021, has not played on tour since the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He withdrew after the first round of the BMW Championship citing a back injury, breaking his longest streak of playing in the Tour Championship – nine years – … Sungjae Im Returning for the first time since playing the Tour Championship. Im and Si Woo Kim Two weeks ago I won the team gold medal at the Asian Games, while I also won the individual silver medal. Sahit Thikala, who won the FedExCup’s first event of the fall, the Fortinet Championship, for his first Tour title, will impress. Deegala finished fifth in Japan a year ago … The field will once again feature a lot of Japan’s top male golfers (led by Matsuyama). Takumi Kanaya He will meet in his 21st PGA Tour event (including nine majors). The former world No. 1-ranked amateur – a position he held for 55 weeks – entered the field after winning the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup (one of the four major championships on the Japan Golf Tour). Kaito Onishi Will be playing for the fifth time on TOUR. Onishi became a 2018 Pac-12 Freshman at USC and will turn pro in 2021… Eleven spots on the field will be decided on Sunday. The top eight available from the Japan Golf Tour’s money list will begin this week’s Japan Open Golf Championship, while three additional sponsor exemptions restricted to Japan Golf Tour members are to be announced.