The PGA Tour announced a six-year deal on Tuesday for an official tournament in Japan from next year, to be sponsored by a company whose CEO has signed up to orbit the moon.
The inaugural $9.75 million Zozo Championship will be played from the 24-27 October at Narashino Country Club in Chiba, part of the PGA Tour's three-event Asian swing.
Yusaku Maezawa is CEO of online fashion retailer Zozo. He recently became the first paying passenger to ante up for a moon orbit on Elon Musk's rocket ship.
Back on earth, the Japan tour stop for all intents and purposes replaces the CIMB Classic, which has been scrapped after nine years on the schedule in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"CIMB is realigning its sponsorship with the tour," the tour said in a press release that raised more questions than it answered.
The Zozo Championship will feature a 78-man field comprised of 60 from the PGA Tour, 10 from the Japan Tour (JGTO) and eight special exemptions, the PGA Tour announced at a press conference in Tokyo.
The event will be co-sanctioned with the Japan Tour. It will fall between the CJ Cup @Nine Bridges in South Korea and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
Over the moon: PGA Tour unveils Japan event
