Xander Schauffele (-19) has achieved his first victory of the season, the tenth of his career on the PGA Tour, at the Baycurrent Classic in Japan. The Californian golfer, aged 31, has thus extended his particular affinity with tournaments held in Asia, a continent with which he maintains a very special bond through his mother, born in Taiwan and raised in the Japanese country before emigrating to the United States.
In China, in 2018, the San Diego native achieved his third victory on the circuit, winning the WGC-HSBC Champions. And very close to where he lifted the trophy of the tournament formerly known as the Zozo Championship, Xander won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021. This Sunday, in the presence of his grandparents, he once again demonstrated how well he performs crossing the Pacific…
Xander. Is. Back. 🏆
His first victory in 2025 comes at the @Baycurrent_Clsc. pic.twitter.com/O42bseQH91
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 12, 2025
Schauffele knew how to battle yesterday, with challenging playing conditions of rain, cold, and wind, to cut a four-stroke deficit and get fully into the fight for victory. And in the last 18 holes, with the sun shining over the Yokohama Country Club, he redeemed himself from the Ryder Cup of a couple of weeks ago by showcasing his best golf of the season to reach double digits in his list of tour titles.
The Californian hadn’t won a tournament since last year’s Open Championship, and this season his best results had been a tied seventh place, again at the British, and two tied eighth places at the Masters and the Genesis Open. He didn’t even manage to qualify for the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, missing out on the FedEx Cup playoffs at the BMW Championship. But today he showed why he arrived in Japan as the world number 4 and one of the favourites.
A special post-round hug from Xander's 81-year-old grandmother, who walked all 18 holes with him today @Baycurrent_Clsc. pic.twitter.com/S1NPnj0Uwv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 12, 2025
Xander maintained a tough battle in the first nine holes, closing with three under par with four birdies and a bogey, to deliver the decisive blow in the second half of the Japanese course, with another four flawless birdies. The one on the 14th, sinking a seven-metre putt, put him in the solo lead; and the one on the 17th, with a four-metre putt, allowed him to reach the final flag with a two-stroke advantage.
For one of his playing partners and main adversary this Sunday, Max Greyserman (-18), the same ‘nightmare’ from a year ago was repeated. He missed out by just one stroke on what would have been his first victory on the PGA Tour. In 2024 it was against Nico Echavarría and this time, against a Schauffele who managed to withstand the pressure at the end when the New Jersey native birdied the 18th to get within one stroke. Xander’s ball was on the green, but almost 12 metres from the flag. If he made a bogey, there would be a playoff. However, the Californian left no room for doubt…
Back-to-back birdies coming down the stretch 👀@XSchauffele leads by one with four to go @Baycurrent_Clsc.
📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/cIFdLWv4jb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 12, 2025
With a great first putt, he left his ball centimetres from the hole to comfortably seal the putt that allowed him to close a round of 64 strokes, seven under par, and win again fifteen months later in a return to very present origins, with his grandparents in Yokohama this week to accompany him. His tenth title on the PGA Tour in his 200th tournament to pocket a prize of 1.44 million dollars and put the best possible finish to a season that had not been the best of his career, by any means.
Sunday also left some important highlights at the Baycurrent Classic. Michael Thorbjornsen (-16), a young talent with a bright future ahead, signed seven under to finish third alone. Takumi Kanaya (-14) was the best Japanese thanks to a brilliant 62 that allowed him to tie for fourth place with Rico Hoey (-14), Alex Smalley (-14), Byeong Hun An (-14), and Garrick Higgo (-14). Meanwhile, the 2024 champion, Nico Echavarría (-13), closed a good title defence with a top 10.
Inches from forcing a playoff 👀
Max Greyserman nearly holed out from 182 yards on the final hole @Baycurrent_Clsc. pic.twitter.com/XfgVdEupsQ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 12, 2025
A special mention goes to Matt McCarty (-10), who had the chance to make history. Starting from the 10th tee, the American closed his first nine holes with four birdies, a good result, but reasonable given the course’s favourable conditions. But in his second half of the round, he birdied every hole from 1 to 8. Thus, he stood on the 9th tee with the possibility of carding a 59… or a 58 if he birdied!
It seems the pressure got to him, and he sent his ball out of bounds with the drive. A penalty stroke dashed his dream of closing the tournament with nine consecutive birdies, although he managed to save the bogey to seal a 60, setting the tournament record, surpassing the 61 by Richy Werenski in the second round of the 2020 edition and John Huh in the second round of 2022. Nonetheless, it was the best round of his career for McCarty, who climbed 30 positions to finish tied 14th.
