On Yokohama’s composite West routing, the fairway edges are sharp and the bentgrass runs quick at first light. Picture this: Collin Morikawa flights a mid-iron on the practice hole, landing below the cup. Hideki Matsuyama sets his ball and answers.
This is the Baycurrent Classic, co-sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) and part of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall. Formerly the Zozo Championship at Narashino, Japan’s PGA Tour stop moves to Yokohama Country Club under the Baycurrent banner.
How to watch the 2025 Baycurrent Classic
Venue: Yokohama Country Club — Yokohama, Japan
Date: Oct. 8-12
Start time: 11 p.m. ET, Wednesday-Saturday
TV: The Golf Channel
Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now!)
This 78-player, no-cut week awards 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner. Headliners include Matsuyama, Morikawa and Xander Schauffele. Defending champion Nico Echavarría returns after winning at 20 under last year.
Sponsor exemptions Max Homa and Sahith Theegala join Wyndham Clark, Sungjae Im, Michael Kim, Chris Gotterup and Billy Horschel, with JGTO regulars adding depth. In a no-cut field, every point is leverage; a top 10 shifts next-season math.
Yokohama Country Club debuts as host at 7,315 yards, par 71 on a composite of 16 West and two East holes. The greens are bentgrass over Korai zoysia fairways and Noshiba rough, with event-week changes that include tightened fairway lines, added rough, new fairway bunkers on the second and 15th holes, six new tees and a tree removal on the 18th. Play for uphill looks. Anything above the hole brings three-putt into play.
With luck, Typhoon Halong won’t become the star of the Baycurrent. Thursday’s play may feel the effect of the outer band of the typhoon; the Thursday forecast calls for a chance of rain and gusty winds. Additional showers are possible through the weekend.
Soft conditions would slow the fairways and favor carry distance, while wet greens raise the value of spin control and pace. Wind is a recurring variable at Yokohama; breezes off Tokyo Bay can push approach shots. If gusts build, expect lower trajectories, more long irons off tees and conservative lines to back pins.
BetMGM has Schauffele favored, followed by Morikawa and Matsuyama. The purse is $8 million, with $1.44 million to the winner.
Baycurrent Classic picks
Courtesy of The Athletic’s sports betting editor Vik Chokshi:
There’s no rocket science involved here. My outright bets are usually based on a couple of models I follow, and I take into account course history and form. I also love betting on golf long shots (usually +2000 or longer range). Here are a couple of guys I think are worth sprinkling pizza money on this week:
Outright winner picks (Odds via BetMGM)
Hideki Matsuyama +1600
Rasmus Højgaard +2200
Si Woo Kim +2200
Min Woo Lee +3300
Gary Woodland +5000
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