No one will confuse Japan’s Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club for a seaside links. But like several of the U.K.’s beloved destinations, when the wind blows around Tokyo-area course hosting this week’s Zozo Championship, the test at hand becomes far more challenging.
Consider the difference in scores from Thursday’s opening round, when mild conditions allowed half of the 78 players in the no-cut, limited-field event to post scores in red figures, and Friday’s second round, when 35-mph gusts meant just 13 players broke par.
“It makes every shot significantly more difficult, from a three-foot putt to a 260-yard shot into a green,” said Beau Hossler, who impressively shot a five-under 65, seven shots better than the round’s average score, to take the 36-hole lead at seven under. “It’s a significant challenge on every shot, and you just try as much as you can to just focus.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
