This Thursday, in the early hours in Spain, the new edition of the Baycurrent Classic has begun at the Yokohama Country Club, a few kilometres from Tokyo. This tournament, previously known as the Zozo Championship, is debuting at a new venue without leaving Japan. A country where American Max Greyserman (-4) feels particularly comfortable due to the culture, the respect of the people, the gastronomy… and where he seeks revenge a year later.
In the 2024 edition, the golfer from New Jersey saw victory slip away on the final hole due to a final birdie by Nico Echavarría. This year, he wants to finish the job quickly. Starting in the first match of the day, Max showed a very solid version of his game, delivering a scorecard of 67 strokes, with five birdies and just one bogey, placing him as co-leader of the standings alongside his compatriots Bud Cauley (-4) and Brian Campbell (-4).
The three share in common the fact that they have secured playing rights on the PGA Tour for 2026. Bud and Brian, within the top 50 of the FedEx Cup, in already defined positions, and Max starting the week as the 58th overall, with the challenge of certifying his presence in the first designated events of next year (positions 51st to 60th after the autumn calendar of the tour), the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the The Genesis Invitational. All have also shared their good handling of the situation on a day that was not particularly easy.
The wind that blew over the original course of the Yokohama Country Club made things difficult. Greyserman remained firm with three birdies in the first half of his round, another by sinking an impressive 12-metre putt on the 11th hole, and a final success to compensate for a lost stroke. “The conditions were very difficult, on a day like this, I gladly accept a result like the one I achieved,” he said after his round.
“It’s a fun course to play, it forces you to be creative. It has a touch of links-style golf around the greens, I’d say it’s one of the best we play all year,” acknowledged the New Jersey native, who went so far as to compare the setting of this Baycurrent Classic with the famous Pinehurst No. 2 in the United States. What better place to seek what would be his first victory on the tour, after achieving four runner-up finishes in 53 tournaments (three last year and one this year, at the Rocket Classic losing the playoff to Aldrich Potgieter).
For now, Greyserman has begun to chart the path towards that goal. Although it won’t be easy because, in addition to the two players he shares the lead with, Nicolai Hojgaard (-3), William Mouw (-3), Japanese Takumi Kanaya (-3), who competes in front of his home crowd and is playing for his card in these tournaments, Kevin Roy (-3), Adam Scott (-3), Sahith Theegala (-3), Sam Ryder (-3), and Rico Hoey (-3) are fully in the fight.
For Alex Noren (-2), the start of the tournament has also been promising, with a round of 69 strokes placing him in a tied 12th position. Such a result at the end of the week would allow him to get very close to the top 100 that retains playing rights for 2026, thus freeing up one of the top 10 spots in the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour for another player to fulfil their dream of reaching the PGA Tour. Nico Echeverría (-1), the defending champion, is also not far off, while stars Xander Schauffele (PAR) and Collin Morikawa (PAR) have started slowly.
