Horikawa aims to raise his popularity stakes after opening 65

Mikumu Horikawa hopes to become as popular as first round leader Colin Morikawa of the United States after he posted a five-under-par 65 to trail the American by one shot at the Zozo Championship on Thursday.

With the two sharing almost similar sounding last names ending with ‘kawas’, the Japanese had to do a double-take when he was making his move up the leaderboard.

“When I looked up at the leaderboard, I thought to myself the name is very like similar, Morikawa and Horikawa. But oh no, that's not me. So, I was determined to catch up with him. Maybe after this week, I’ll become as popular as him,” quipped the Horikawa.

If anything, 30-year-old Horikawa certainly has the momentum to compete this week, following his season-best tied-for-third finish at the Japan Open last week.

The four-time JGTO winner combined four birdies with a single bogey in an eventful first seven holes.

He then gained another two shots on the 13th and 14th holes to finish in a five-way tie for second, making him the highest-ranked local player among the 14 competing in this week's US$8.5 million PGA Tour showpiece.

Despite an excellent start, Horikawa feels he has plenty of room for improvement, particularly in putting.

"I finished with a score of five-under par, although I didn't feel my putting was on point. Nevertheless, I managed to turn each hole of the 18-hole course into an opportunity," said Horikawa.

"If I were to be ambitious, I might have pushed even further. Yet, other than the 18th hole, I ended with no significant mistakes and completed a solid round without overexerting myself.

"I've recently overhauled my swing, adjusting nearly 70% of it. The change is so drastic, I almost feel like an entirely different golfer. However, starting from last week, I've felt confident and aim to sustain this momentum. I'm geared up for the rest of the season."

Satoshi Kodaira, a full-time player on the PGA Tour, had an encouraging start, carding a three-under-par 67 to be tied for eighth alongside eight others, including defending champion Keegan Bradley and world No. 6 Xander Schauffele, who is the highest-ranked player in this week's 78-man field.

Ryo Ishikawa, who has finished as a runner-up twice on the PGA Tour, was just one shot behind, joined by South Korean JGTO star Song Young-han.

Though there's no cut in this week's event, JGTO notable trio Taiga Semikawa, Aguri Iwasaki and Keita Nakajima will have to bounce back strongly tomorrow if they want to keep their title hopes alive.

Last year's Japan Open winner Semikawa could only muster a 70 for T53 while Iwasaki, fresh off last week's Japan Open victory and Keita Nakajima posted matching 73s to sit at lowly T67.

Two-time major champion Morikawa made an early statement by shooting a bogey-free 64, propelled by a flurry of birdies on the back nine.

Starting his round from the 10th tee, he notched birdies on holes six, 10, 11, 13, 16, and 17, positioning himself to potentially end a nearly two-year title drought and secure his 10th career title.

Morikawa's last win was at the 2021 DP World Tour Championship.

When asked about the prospect of ending his title drought in Japan, the American-Japanese star said: "There's obviously a little bit more meaning to this tournament for me, but look, a win's a win, I'll take a win anywhere, right?

"I'm doing everything I can the next three days and kind of tonight to make sure I give myself the best opportunity to do that."

Leading first round scores:

64: Collin Morikawa (US);

65: Robby Shelton (US), Mikumu Horikawa (Jpn), Eric Cole (US), Nicolai Hojgaard (Den), Emiliano Grillo (Arg);

66: Zac Blair (US);

67: Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn), Joel Dahmen (US), Xander Schauffele (US), Will Gordon (US), Sahith Theegala, Im Sung-jae (Kor), Cam Davis (Aus), Keegan Bradley (US), Andrew Novak (US).

Ends.