Zozo Championship: Xander Schauffele struggles after quadruple-bogey as Taylor Moore leads in Japan

Two-time main champion Xander Schauffele made a stunning begin to the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship as Taylor Moore grabbed the early lead in Japan.

The world No 2 – the highest-ranked participant within the discipline – solely registered one birdie and racked up an unpleasant quadruple-bogey on the par-four ninth on his solution to a three-over 73 at Narashino Nation Membership, leaving him 10 strokes behind early pacesetter Taylor Moore.

Schauffele is tied-Seventieth within the 78-man discipline after the opening day, as Moore grabbed a one-shot lead over Max Greyserman, Eric Cole and Nico Echavarria after birdieing three of the final 4 holes of his seven-under 63.

CT Pan is 2 again alongside Kevin Yu and Justin Thomas is three off the tempo after a four-under 66, whereas Collin Morikawa – who claimed a six-shot victory final 12 months – wanted two late birdies to salvage an opening-round 69.

Schauffele struggles at Zozo Championship

The reigning Open champion opened with 5 consecutive pars and continued his run on the par-five sixth, regardless of discovering water off the tee, along with his run ending when he made two failed makes an attempt out of the timber on the ninth earlier than having to take a penalty drop.

He pitched out along with his fifth shot and located the inexperienced along with his subsequent, with Schauffele knocking his putt a number of toes previous the opening earlier than changing the trouble coming again to card a quadruple-bogey eight.

Schauffele’s solely birdie of the day got here on the par-three thirteenth, the place he transformed from eight toes, with the American failing to make the most of both par-five over the closing holes.

“General it was fairly low stress for essentially the most a part of the day,” Schauffele stated. “Like 85 per cent of the day was not very irritating. Quantity 9, it was an unimaginable spot. I wished to take a photograph of it virtually, how unhealthy it was. For me to assume I can do something positively bought me in a gap there.

“I ought to have simply taken an unplayable, however I used to be an fool and tried to hit it. Then I used to be cussed after which tried to hit it once more, then lastly took an unplayable. I used to be going to hit it a 3rd time too simply because, however yeah, it was a nasty spot.”

Moore adopted two birdies in his first six holes with a pitch in-eagle on the par-five 18th, with the 31-year-old selecting up one other shot on the third then cancelling out a three-putt bogey on the fourth with a three-birdie burst from the sixth to seize the lead.

“I would say simply very stable general,” Moore stated. “Did a reasonably good job hitting fairways and greens for essentially the most half. Yeah, had a few chip-ins as nicely, which at all times helps!”

England’s Harry Corridor began with a two-under 68 and Morikawa recovered from dropping three pictures in three holes from the fourth to remain inside six of the lead, whereas dwelling favorite Hideki Matsuyama opened with a one-over 71.

Watch the Zozo Championship all through the week stay on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection continues on Friday from 4am on Sky Sports activities Golf or stream with NOW.