Racing Post's Zozo Championship third-round predictions & free golf betting tips

Free golf tips and best bets for the third round of the Zozo Championship on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Golf & Main Event, from 3.30am Saturday

Already advised by Ian Wilkerson

Keegan Bradley
1.5pt each-way 40-1 BoyleSports

Best bets

Collin Morikawa to win Zozo Championship
1pt each-way 14-1 bet365

Luke List to win Zozo Championship
0.5pt each-way 50-1 bet365

Third-round preview

The Zozo Championship has reached the halfway point at Narashino Country Club, Japan, and it looks like there will be a fascinating weekend in store with a host of players in contention for victory.

One-time PGA Tour winner Andrew Putnam and reborn Rickie Fowler are leading the way at ten under par, one stroke ahead of fellow American Keegan Bradley, who was advised at 40-1 before the tournament by Racing Post Sport's Ian Wilkerson.

John Huh, who carded a superb nine-under-par 61 on Friday to get into the mix, is two shots behind the leaders.

Japanese Keita Nakajima is the leading contender for the home favourites, he sits on -7 after signing for a 63 on round two, while the American pair of Matthew NeSmith and Sam Ryder are four off the pace.

There are then five players at five under par, and while they have work to do over the weekend, there are low scores to be had at this course. There is every chance a surge can be made on moving day.

One member of that quintet who looks primed to make a move is two-time Major champion Collin Morikawa, who put his disappointing one-over-par 71 on day one behind him with a brilliant six-under 64 on Friday.

When the 25-year-old won the 2020 US PGA Championship and the 2021 Open, his tee-to-green game was sensational and there was no better iron player in the world.

After some iffy performances last season, Morikawa is back inside the top ten in the world and the aspects of his game which helped him to two Major titles have been showcased in Japan - he is tied second in driving accuracy and fifth in greens in regulation over the opening 36 holes of the Zozo.

The American has also scrambled well over the first two rounds - ranking tenth in that department - and if he can make a slight improvement with the putter over the weekend there is every chance he can better his best finish of seventh in this tournament.

Another player who is five back and makes appeal at the prices is 50-1 Luke List, who hasn't progressed as expected since breaking his PGA Tour duck at the Farmers Insurance Open in January.

The 37-year-old has failed to record a single top-ten finish since that success but the signs have been much better in Japan and it would be no surprise to see him make a move up the leaderboard on Saturday.

List was ranked an excellent 13th in greens in regulation last season and his iron play has been sharp over the first two rounds in Inzai, where he has hit 26 of 36 greens in regulation.

The American has the power off the tee to put himself in some good positions to attack holes and, like Morikawa, if he can get the putter rolling true then a second PGA Tour title may not be far away come Sunday.

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