Home boy Matsuyama the one to catch

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits his second shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the ZOZO Championship at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on Friday. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan hits his second shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the ZOZO Championship at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on Friday. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

In search of his seventh PGA Tour win, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama leads the field by one stroke at 8-under 132.

Making his debut at the ZOZO Championship, Cameron Tringale has hit 77.8% of Greens in Regulation through 36 holes to be ranked T2 in the category.

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Standing at T3, Matt Wallace recorded a second-round 69 in also his first appearance.

 

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Brendan Steele’s second round 68 included four birdies and two bogeys as he chases a fourth career win.

First round leader Hiroshi Iwata, who got into the event on Monday following the withdrawal of Kevin Na, carded a second round 73, 10 shots higher than his opening round 63.

Matsuyama holds the 36-hole lead/co-lead for the fourth time (2016 WGC-HSBC Champions/1st).

 

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Finished T6 in the Fortinet Championship for his lone top-10 to date in the 2021-22 PGA Tour season.

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Is making his third start in ZOZO Championship (2nd/2019, T28/2020).

Holds six Tour wins and eight Japan Golf Tour wins, with the most recent being the 2016 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters.

Tringale (2nd/-7) has made four starts in 2021-22 season; best finish (T11/Sanderson Farms Championship).

 

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Entered the week ranked 26th on the FedExCup points list. He is chasing first Tour win and holds three career runner-up finishes (T2/2014 The Barclays, 2nd/2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, 2015 Shriners Children’s Open).

Won the 2015 Franklin Templeton Shootout alongside Jason Day.

 

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The last time he was 2nd/T2 after 36 holes was at the 2017 Barbasol Championship; went on to finish T6.

Wallace (T3/-6) is in his third start of the 2021-2022 season (MC/Sanderson Farms Championship, T14/Shriners Children’s Open).

 

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Five top-10 finishes in 49 Tour starts: T6/2021 Wells Fargo Championship, 3rd/2021 Valero Texas Open, T3/2019 PGA Championship, T4/2020 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, T6/2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

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Steele (T3/-6) comes to Japan for the first time after a tournament debut at the ZOZO Championship in 2020.

The last time he was in the top-3 through 36 holes was at the 2020 The Honda Classic; went on to finish T8.

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