x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
5 smart bets for the Zozo Championship, according to a professional gambler
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

5 smart bets for the Zozo Championship, according to a professional gambler

By: Josh Sens
  • Follow on Twitter
October 19, 2021
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
hideki matsuyama at the cj cup

Hideki Matsuyama will play on his home turf this week in Japan.

getty images

Erick Lindgren is a star of the professional poker circuit, with more than $10 million in career earnings. But he has proven to be a shark at golf wagering, too. Over a torrid stretch of making PGA Tour picks for GOLF.com last summer and fall, Lindgren picked five outright winners, among other spot-on picks. That sparkling track record inspired us to re-up with Lindgren as our gambling guru for the 2021-22 campaign.

The ground rules are the same as they were last season: Every week we’re giving Lindgren a $1,000 gambling budget (just play money!). In return, he’s giving us — well, you — his five best bets for that week’s event. Here’s Lindgren’s play list for the Zozo Championship, which kicks off Thursday at Accordia Golf Narashino CC, in Chiba, Japan. If you want to get your own wagers in under the wire, mind the time difference! Chiba is 11 hours ahead of EST.

(Looking to place any of these bets yourself? We teamed with BetMGM, and the online sportsbook is offering a “Risk-Free Bet” of up to $1,000.)

News
Rickie Fowler looks down the fairway during Round 3 of the 2021 CJ Cup in Las Vegas
Can Rickie Fowler finally win this week? 2021 Zozo Championship odds
By: Kevin Cunningham

1. Hideki Matsuyama to win, 12-1 (wager: $400)

As Lindgren sees it, Matsuyama is one of “three class guys” in the field this week, and he’s got the longest odds of the trio. Lindgren likes the number, especially since Hideki is playing at home.

2. Sung Kang, 100-1 (wager: $100)

As evidenced by his opening round 61 in Las Vegas two weeks back, the 2019 AT&T Bryson Nelson champ is not afraid of going low. But his long odds mean the payoff would be high.

3. Rikuya Hoshino, Top 10 finish, 8-1 (wager: $200)

News
Collin Morikawa hits a tee shot during the 2021 CJ Cup in Las Vegas
How to watch the 2021 Zozo Championship: TV schedule, streaming, tee times
By: Kevin Cunningham

A big believer in home cooking, Lindgren thinks Hoshino has a chance to feast. As supporting evidence, he points to Hoshino’s strong ball-striking in the Olympics, plus the fact that he was T-7 at the 2019 Zozo before the tournament was stalled by a monsoon.

4. Satoshi Kodaira, Top 20 finish, 4-1 (wager: $200)

Sticking with the local theme, Lindgren is going with a steady player whose resume is highlighted by two wins in majors on the Japan Golf Tour. Lindgren also thinks the course favors Kodaira’s style of play, noting: “I like him more when driver means less.”

5. Charley Hoffman, Top American, 20-1 (wager: $100)

For Lindgren to win this one, Hoffman will have to beat both Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa. That’s the bad news. The good news, Lindgren says, is that “Charley’s irons have been on fire for the last eight months.” All things considered, “I like the price.”

Latest In News

5 minutes ago

PGA Championship's 10 most intriguing tee times, ranked

9 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy’s handmade ball markers have fascinating backstory

47 minutes ago

Nelly Korda stuns in SI Swim, Bryson's really good deed | Rogers Report

1 hour ago

Jealousy? Smoking? What I learned after hearing 188 PGA Championship questions

Josh Sens

Golf.com Editor

A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.

  • Author Twitter Account

Related Articles

Gear
Nico Echavarria hits a shot at the Zozo Championship.

What clubs does Zozo Championship winner Nico Echavarria play | Winner's bag

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Nico Echavarria reaches out at gold streamer with smile in winner's circle at the Zozo Championship

2024 Zozo Championship money: Here's how much every player made

By: James Colgan
News
zozo championship justin thomas waves putter on sunday

Why Justin Thomas' latest 'disappointment' at the Zozo looked different

By: James Colgan
Putters
justin thomas scotty cameron

1 reason Justin Thomas is contending at Zozo? His putter

By: Jack Hirsh
News
justin thomas holds out hand in green shirt at the zozo championship

2024 Zozo Championship Saturday tee times: Round 4 groupings

By: James Colgan
News
justin thomas swings club at the zozo championship in green shirt

2024 Zozo Championship Saturday TV coverage: How to watch Round 4

By: James Colgan
News
justin thomas waves hand at the zozo championship in blue shirt

3 reasons to believe Justin Thomas can get his first win in 2.5 years

By: James Colgan
News
PGA Tour pro Justin Thomas hits his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the second round of the Zozo Championship 2024 at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

2024 Zozo Championship Friday TV coverage: How to watch Round 3

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
Split iomage of PGA Tour pros justin thomas and rickie fowler

Major Tour droughts could crumble this weekend ... in the middle of the night

By: Sean Zak
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version