Collin Morikawa returns from hiatus to lead Zozo Championship as PGA Tour hits Japan

The American opened with a six-under-par 64 at Narashino Country Club on Thursday to lead by one shot over a group of five players that includes local favourite Mikumu Horikawa, Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and Argentinean Emiliano Grillo.

Morikawa opted to take a short break after the US failed to retain the Ryder Cup and admitted he wasn't sure what he was going to get in his first round back in action.

A bogey-free six-under-par 64 was just what the doctor ordered, however.

"I've been working on a few things, trying to get control of the golf ball, spent a lot of time putting yesterday," said Morikawa, who claimed a string of victories in 2020 and 2021 - including the PGA Championship - but has been winless for the last two years.

"It's nice to see the work I've put in, just kind of recreate that on the golf course."

Other US Ryder Cup stars to return to action in Japan included Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, the former carding a three-under-par 67 and the latter a one-over 71.

"I'm happy with how I'm driving it, happy with how I'm rolling it – just need to tighten up some of the dispersion from the fairway," said Schauffele, who is tied for eighth place on three under.

"With the greens being soft, you feel like you can be really aggressive."

Former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama drew the largest galleries and opened with a one-under-par 69.

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