Iwata leads Zozo Championship, home favourite Matsuyama well poised

Hiroshi Iwata holds a one-shot lead and Hideki Matsuyama also made a promising start to the Zozo Championship on home soil.

Appearing in a PGA Tour event for the first time since the 2017 season, Iwata got off to a flyer with a seven-under 63 at the Narashino Country Club on Thursday.

The 40-year-old went out in 32 and finished his round with an eagle three to top the leaderboard after making four birdies and just the one bogey on the back nine.

Matsuyama is just a shot off the lead following a blemish-free first round of 64 in the Tokyo suburbs, where the tournament could not be staged last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Masters champion started with two birdies in the opening three holes and moved to three under with another gain at the sixth, before making another three birdies after the turn.

Joaquin Niemann also shot a bogey-free 64 to take a share of second place with home favourite Matsuyama.

Englishman Matt Wallace is just two strokes off the lead, having dropped a couple of shots on the back nine.

World number three Collin Morikawa has work to do following an opening one-over 71, a stroke behind Ryder Cup team-mate Xander Schauffele.