You can read Liam Williams’ Power Rankings for the Baycurrent Classic at bet365 News.
Course Guide: Yokohama Country Club is the Baycurrent Classic venue. A typical Japanese tree-lined, parkland, golf course, at a slightly extended 7,322 yards (5 yards) in length it’s over 200 yards longer than the Narashino Country Club it replaced. But with this being a Par 71, this is still a short golf course to navigate. Since a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw renovation in 2016, this course has seen some action on the Japan Golf Tour Organization with the 2018 Japan Open, plus 2023 and 2024 Yokohama Minato Championships being played here prior to the Baycurrent’s arrival.
Yokohama Country Club, Yokohama, Japan: Designer: Takeo Aiyama, 1960, with Coore & Crenshaw renovation, 2015; Course Type: Classical, Parkland, Mid-Score, Short; Par: 71; Length: 7,322 yards; Number of Holes with Water In-Play: 5; Fairways: Korai Zoysiagrass; Rough: Noshiba Zoysiagrass 2″; Greens: 6,500 sq.ft average 007 Bentgrass; Tournament Stimp: 11.5ft.
Course Scoring Average + PGA Tour Difficulty Rank:
- 2025: 70.05 (-0.95), Rank 26 of 50 courses
Course Designer Links: For research purposes other Coore and Crenshaw designs include (including re-designs):
- The Plantation Course at Kapalua – The Sentry
- Pinehurst Number 2 – 2014 & 2024 U.S. Open
- Trinity Forest Golf Club – 2018/19 AT&T Byron Nelson
Course Overview: The Baycurrent Classic, held at Yokohama Country Club, utilises a composite course layout combining holes from both the West and East Courses. Specifically, the layout includes 16 holes from the West Course and 2 holes from the East Course, which play as the 17th and 18th, which are densely tree-lined. This configuration aims to offer a balanced challenge for players, integrating the West Course’s undulating fairways and dense pine trees with the East Course’s tighter, tree-lined fairways and deep bunkering.
The West Course is renowned for its wide, inviting fairways, complemented by gently rolling terrain and classic Coore & Crenshaw-style bunkering. Fairway widths vary, with some dog-legs as tight as 29 yards wide, compared to +50 yards on a number of holes. Fairways are easy to hit though, with the 2025 average at 69% compared to the Tour average of around 60%.
The quirky, quite specialised nature of Japanese golf courses is fully highlighted here at Yokohama, where a Par 71 format features just 2 par-5s, both within 2 holes of each-other on the front 9. The back 9 features 8 par-4s, with only 3 par-3s namely the 3rd, 7th and the 237 yard 16th.
Winning scores here have been -14/270 (2018 Japan Open), -13/271 (2023 Yokohama Minato Championship) and -22/262 (2024 Yokohama Minato Championship), with Xander Schauffele scoring -19/265 to win here in 2025.
Yokohama Country Club also features Zoysiagrass fairways and rough, which we have also seen at Japan’s previous Tour stop-off Narashino Country Club from 2019.
Zoysiagrass is becoming more prevalent on the PGA Tour featuring at TPC Southwind (FedEx St Jude Championship, WGC St Jude Invitational and before that the St Jude Classic), East Lake (Tour Championship), plus CJ Cup Byron Nelson venue TPC Craig Ranch (current) plus with previous host venue Trinity Forest, which was planted from tee to green with Zoysiagrass. These fairways also featured at the Atlanta Athletic Club (2011 PGA Championship; Bellerive Country Club (2018 PGA Championship + 2026 BMW Championship) and Valhalla (2024 PGA Championship). Zoysia is pretty much love or hate with professionals with players on the negative side claiming the quirky grass promotes flyers.
Previous PGA Tour winners in Japan: Hosted at Yokohama CC: 2025: Xander Schauffele (-19); Hosted at Narashino CC: 2024: Nicolas Echavarria (-20); 2023: Collin Morikawa (-14); 2022: Keegan Bradley (-15); 2021: Hideki Matsuyama (-15); Hosted at Sherwood CC: 2020: Patrick Cantlay (-23); Hosted at Narashino CC: 2019: Tiger Woods (-19).
- 2025: Xander Schauffele 71-63-67-64 -19/265
OWGR of previous PGA Tour winners in Japan: 2025: Schauffele 4; 2024: Echavarria 292; 2023: Morikawa 20; 2022: Bradley 44; 2021: Matsuyama 19; 2020: Cantlay 14; 2019: Woods 10.
Datagolf Ranking of previous PGA Tour winners in Japan: 2025: Schauffele 9; 2024: Echavarria 259; 2023: Morikawa 7; 2022: Bradley 38; 2021: Matsuyama 40.
Yokohama Country Club Lead Score Progression:
2025: Round 1 -4; Round 2 -12; Round 3 -12; Round 4 -19.
Path to Victory: Below are the end of round positions for the winners of the Baycurrent Classic:
- 2025 – Xander Schauffele: Round 1: 25th, Round 2: 2nd, Round 3: 1st.
From the Lead: Below are the Baycurrent Classic winners and where they were positioned in terms of shots from the lead during the tournament:
- 2025 – Xander Schauffele: Round 1: 4 back, Round 2: 4 back, Round 3: level.
Incoming Form of previous PGA Tour winners in Japan since 2019:
- Xander Schauffele: 28th BMW/22nd St Jude/7th Open Champ/8th Scottish Open.
- Nicolas Echavarria: MC Shriners/11th Black Desert/MC Sanderson/MC Procore.
- Collin Morikawa: 4th Tour/25th BMW/13th St Jude/MC Open Champ.
- Keegan Bradley: 5th Sanderson/58th BMW/MC St Jude/44th Rocket Mortgage.
- Hideki Matsuyama: 59th CJ Cup/67th Shriners/8th Fortinet/26th Tour.
- Patrick Cantlay: 38th CJ Cup/8th Shriners/43rd US Open/12th BMW.
- Tiger Woods: 37th BMW/WD Northern Trust/MC Open Champ/21st US Open.
Tournament Stats: We’ve published some key player statistics for this week’s event that are well worth a look. Naturally they’ll help to shape a view on players who could go well this week: Current Form | Course Form | First Round Leader | Combined Stats.
My published predictor is available here. Top 10 of my published predictor are: 1) Xander Schauffele; 2) Wyndham Clark; 3) Collin Morikawa; 4) Min Woo Lee; 5) Hideki Matsuyama; 6) Matt Wallace; 7) Justin Thomas; 8) Kurt Kitayama; 9) Keegan Bradley; 10) Max Homa.
Previous PGA Tour winners in Japan Winning Prices: 2025: Schauffele 10/1F; 2024: Echavarria 250/1; 2023: Morikawa 11/1; 2022: Bradley 40/1; 2021: Matsuyama 16/1; 2020: Cantlay 28/1; 2019: Woods 33/1. Past 5 Renewals Average: 65/1; Overall Average: 55/1.
Historical Weather:
- 2025: Thursday: Mostly cloudy and windy. High of 72. Wind NE 20-25 mph, gusting to 38 mph. Friday: Partly cloudy. High of 75. Wind E 5-10 mph. Saturday: Cloudy with periods of light rain. High of 68. Wind NE 10-18 mph. Sunday: Mostly cloudy. High of 77. Wind S 6-12 mph.
Weather Forecast: The latest weather forecast for Yokohama, Japan is here.
The forecast for the Baycurrent looks better than 12 months ago. Temperatures are consistent between 23-25 degrees Celsius, – 73-77 Fahrenheit. Sunday is the coldest day. Winds are also lighter with nothing more than 15 mph from the west across the 4 days of action. The forecast also shows no sign of rain and with only 75mm – 2.95” of rain in September, I think we’ll see a faster course in 2026, whether the PGA Tour allow that on the greens as well remains to be seen.
Player Strokes Gained Rankings: These top 25 in the field rankings are based on an 8-tournament window that stretches back to the St Jude Championship / Danish Golf Championship which includes both PGA Tour and DP World Tour events, where recorded. Player rankings are based on performance relative to the rest of the field:
- Top 25 SG Off The Tee: 1) Keith Mitchell; 2) Michael Brennan; 3) Xander Schauffele; 4) Wyndham Clark; 5) Keita Nakajima; 6) Steven Fisk; 7) Doug Ghim / Hideki Matsuyama; 9) Michael Thorbjornsen; 10) Collin Morikawa; 11) Zach Bauchou / Jacob Bridgeman; 13) Kurt Kitayama / Adam Scott; 15) Sungjae Im; 16) Brian Harman; 17) Maverick McNealy / Jackson Suber; 19) Ricky Castillo / Ryan Gerard; 21) Justin Thomas; 22) Rickie Fowler / Taylor Pendrith; 24) Pierceson Coody / Max Homa.
- Top 25 SG Approach: 1) Brian Harman; 2) Jackson Suber; 3) Wyndham Clark / Rickie Fowler / Kurt Kitayama / Hideki Matsuyama; 7) Lee Hodges; 8) Adam Scott; 9) Matt Kohles / Alex Smalley / Jordan Spieth; 12) Johnny Keefer; 13) Jacob Bridgeman / Xander Schauffele; 15) Collin Morikawa; 16) Ryan Gerard; 17) Ryo Hisatsune; 18) Zach Bauchou / Kevin Yu; 20) Sungjae Im; 21) Kris Ventura; 22) Michael Kim / Min Woo Lee; 24) Max Homa; 25) Michael Thorbjornsen / Matt Wallace.
- Top 25 SG Around The Green: 1) Justin Thomas; 2) Chandler Philips; 3) Min Woo Lee / Nick Taylor; 5) Wyndham Clark / Stephan Jaeger; 7) Brian Harman; 8) Max Greyserman; 9) Maverick McNealy; 10) Takumi Kanaya / Kurt Kitayama / Collin Morikawa; 13) Doug Ghim / Alex Smalley; 15) Hideki Matsuyama; 16) Taylor Moore; 17) Christiaan Bezuidenhout; 18) Jordan Spieth; 19) Sungjae Im / Michael Thorbjornsen; 21) Ben Kohles; 22) Ricky Castillo / Matt Wallace; 24) Tony Finau / Ryan Gerard / Xander Schauffele / Adam Scott.
- Top 25 SG Tee to Green: 1) Brian Harman; 2) Hideki Matsuyama; 3) Wyndham Clark / Doug Ghim; 5) Kurt Kitayama / Jackson Suber; 7) Lee Hodges; 8) Ryan Gerard / Xander Schauffele / Adam Scott; 11) Ben Kohles; 12) Zach Bauchou / Matt Wallace; 14) Jacob Bridgeman / Johnny Keefer; 16) Collin Morikawa; 17) Steven Fisk / Alex Smalley; 19) Justin Thomas; 20) Kris Ventura; 21) Jordan Spieth; 22) Sungjae Im; 23) John Parry; 24) Max Homa / Maverick McNealy.
- Top 25 SG Putting: 1) Keith Mitchell; 2) Sungjae Im; 3) Jacob Bridgeman; 4) Wyndham Clark; 5) Ricky Castillo / Patrick Rodgers / Jordan Spieth; 8) Billy Horschel; 9) Michael Brennan; 10) Xander Schauffele; 11) Michael Kim; 12) Min Woo Lee; 13) Collin Morikawa; 14) Max Homa / Matt McCarty; 16) Steven Fisk / Rickie Fowler; 18) Dou Ghim; 19) Adam Scott; 20) Kurt Kitayama; 21) Takumi Kanaya; 22) Nicolas Echavarria / Max Greyserman / Johnny Keefer / Maverick McNealy.
- Top 25 SG Total: 1) Sungjae Im; 2) Wyndham Clark / Johnny Keefer; 4) Doug Ghim; 5) Jacob Bridgeman / Adam Scott; 7) Lee Hodges; 8) Ben Kohles; 9) Steven Fisk; 10) Xander Schauffele; 11) Zach Bauchou / Ryan Gerard / Kurt Kitayama / Hideki Matsuyama / Jordan Spieth; 16) Michael Brennan / Matt Wallace; 18) Collin Morikawa; 19) Max Homa; 20) Billy Horschel / Kevin Roy / Maverick McNealy / Jackson Suber / Kevin Yu; 25) Michael Kim.
Trends & Key Factors: Analysing the Strokes Gained Stats of the Baycurrent Classic winners here at Yokohama Country Club gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this desert, Par 72:
Strokes Gained Tournament Trends:
- 2025, Xander Schauffele (-19). SG Off the Tee: 17th, SG Approach: 20th, SG Around the Green: 20th, SG Tee to Green: 7th, SG Putting: 6th.
Tournament Trends & Key Factors: Analysing the final stats of the winners here gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this test:
- 2025, Xander Schauffele (-19). 298 yards (23rd), 89.3% fairways (7th), 75.0% greens in regulation (3rd), 77.8% scrambling (6th), 1.67 putts per GIR (17th).
Let’s take a view from players as to how Yokohama Country Club played last year and what specific skills it requires:
Xander Schauffele (2025): “Yesterday I saw a lot of guys going off on that front nine getting off to a good start, so I knew I had to do the same even in the wind. So that’s kind of what I focused on. We had two par 5s early on. Just trying to go as low as possible through five or six holes. It was nice to sort of finally get off to a good start that I wanted.
Yeah, like I said, survival is literally the feeling. It was tee shots, putts, chips, it was hard with the trees kind of looming off the tee boxes, your ball kind of gets going out and then gets hit by a crazy crosswind or if you mis-hit a shot, you get penalized. Like I said, it was just a little bit more forgiving today, and if you were just a little bit more precise, you got really rewarded for it with the greens really receptive.”
Max Greyserman (2025): “Yeah, I really like the golf course. It’s different than last year’s golf course. Last year it was a more straightforward test, kind of narrow, can you put the ball in play, can you put it on the green, kind of flat greens, and this golf course is very much like maybe Northeast golf, lot of slope on the golf course, around the greens, on the greens. So a lot of runoffs, a lot of runoffs, bunkers, fairway runoffs. I enjoy playing that style of golf maybe like a Pinehurst No. 2 type of golf where everything’s shaved around the greens. I think it’s maybe more fun to play and there’s more creativity. It’s kind of like linksy golf around the greens a little bit. Yeah, it’s a fun test, a different test. I think it might be one of the best courses we play all year to be honest.
You’ve got some kind of straightish putts out here. The greens have a lot of slope but the sections where they are, the pins can sometimes get flat, especially on the crowns. So going to maybe practice maybe some straighter 10-, 15-footers that you don’t normally get in a lot of courses.
I feel like there’s a couple greens out here that remind me of maybe Pinehurst No. 2 and maybe a little bit of Sedgefield as well. It’s a Coore & Crenshaw, but the greens are kind of Donald Ross-esque type of greens. So if I had to maybe pick two courses, maybe a little bit of Sedgefield, a little bit of Pinehurst No. 2 on the greens and the surrounds the way they run off.”
First Round Leader Analysis: First round leader(s), their wave and winning score since 2025. Full First Round Leader stats are here.
2025 – Campbell/Cauley/Greyserman -4/67 – 150/1, 55/1, 66/1
For the record, here’s the breakdown of pure Bentgrass green PGA Tour victors in the field since 2008:
- 5 – Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas.
- 4 – Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele.
- 3 – Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott.
- 2 – Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman, Billy Horschel.
- 1 – Michael Brennan, Nico Echavarria, Steven Fisk, Max Homa, Sungjae Im, Michael Kim, Kurt Kitayama, Matt McCarty, Collin Morikawa, Taylor Pendrith, Davis Thompson, Michael Thorbjornsen.
