The ZOZO Championship has seen a significant shake-up after the opening round, with favorites Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Hideki Matsuyama failing to perform as expected.
The trio combined for a score of 3-over par, with Schauffele’s quadruple-bogey 8 on the ninth hole standing out as a major setback. He finished with a 73, ranking near the bottom of the 78-player field.
As a result, overnight leader Taylor Moore now holds a slight edge in the odds, while Justin Thomas, just three shots behind, emerges as the most prominent contender.
With no cut in this event, the leaderboard remains competitive, setting the stage for an intriguing second round as players aim to capitalize on the surprising turn of events.
