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The tournament returns to Japan at the Accordia Golf Narashino
Country Club on Thursday after last year's edition was moved to
California due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The $9.95 million event will feature Asia's first Masters
champion Hideki Matsuyama, two-time major winner Collin Morikawa
and Schauffele, who won gold for the United States at the Tokyo
Olympics in August with a one-stroke victory.
Schauffele, whose grandparents reside in Japan, said winning at
the Zozo Championship would be a huge honour for his family.
"I'm very excited," Schauffele, who also won the Ryder Cup with
the United States last month, said on Wednesday.
"Winning here would be really cool. It would be really special
to sort of win twice in Japan, especially since I don't live
here.
"I think it would be a huge honour for my family if I was able
to do that and I'm going to do my best this week."
American Morikawa, whose father is of Japanese descent, said he
is looking forward to playing in front of an energetic crowd
with 5,000 spectators allowed each day.
"These are some of the best fans," Morikawa said. "I remember my
first tee shot out here two years ago when there were fans on
stools and lined up five, six people deep.
"They would cheer for you walking to tee boxes, hitting every
tee shot whether it's good or bad.
"They bring so much energy. I've said it since we returned from
COVID, it's just really good to see people out here again."
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; editing by Kim Coghill)
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