The PGA TOUR is headed for Japan this week for the annual co-sanctioned event with the Japan Golf Tour. The tournament is the third in the FedExCup Fall and gives players a chance to continue to earn critical points to improve their status for next season. The international event draws a strong field to Yokohama Country Club in Yokohama, Japan. This event takes place from Thursday, October 8, and will conclude on Sunday, October 11, weather permitting.
Let’s start the week with a look at the format, history, and course for the Baycurrent Classic.
Baycurrent Classic Format
This week’s format is unique in this part of the schedule since it is an invitational tournament that does not have a cut. The 72 players in the limited field will all get four rounds this week, barring withdrawal or disqualification. All four rounds will be played at the Yokohama Country Club.
This is the third of the eight FedExCup Fall tournaments. Winners of fall events earn the same benefits as regular-season events – including a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR, 500 FedExCup points, and spots in THE PLAYERS, The Sentry, and those major championships that invite PGA TOUR winners.
At the end of the FedExCup Fall, the top 100 players in the FedExCup Fall standings earn full-time membership and exemption for the 2027 season, while players ranked No. 101-125 will have conditional status. Additionally, players who finish ranked from 51-60 in the standings earn entry into the first two Signature Events following The Sentry via the Aon Next 10.
Plenty is at stake throughout the fall on the PGA TOUR, including this week’s visit to Japan.
Tournament History
The tournament began in 2019, when Tiger Woods won his 82nd PGA Tour victory and tied the all-time record for most wins on the PGA TOUR.
The event moved to California in 2020 due to travel complications during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned to Japan in 2021. In 2025, the sponsorship changed from Zozo to Baycurrent, and the venue shifted from Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club to Yokohama Country Club.
Last year, in the first year at this week’s venue, Xander Schauffele won the event by one stroke over Max Greyserman. Schauffele is back to defend his title this season, along with previous champions Nico Echavarria, Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley and Hideki Matsuyama.
Be sure to check out this week’s full field and opening odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Closer Look at the Course
Yokohama Country Club is a par-71 that plays at 7,322 yards on the scorecard. It only has three par-3s and two par-5s, with the other 13 holes all playing as par-4s. In the middle of the course (holes 8-15), there are eight straight holes that play as par-4s, and there are no par-5s after the 6th hole. The layout is unique and demanding, and places an obvious emphasis on par-4 scoring.
The course was originally designed by Takeo Aiyama in 1960, before a major update in 2016 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Before taking over as the host for the Baycurrent Classic, the course hosted the 2023 and 2024 Minato Championship on the Japan Tour, as well as the 2018 Japan Open.
The course is more difficult overall than the first two events in the FedExCup Fall and places a focus on strong play tee-to-green, with tricky fairway and approach shots. Top ball-strikers filled the leaderboard last year, and approach play was especially important on the many par-4s. Bogey avoidance and scrambling stats are also key stats to consider.
While this course doesn’t have ShotLink data, it’s still important to target players who perform well tee-to-green, with an emphasis on Strokes Gained: Approach and Driving Distance to give players shorter approaches to the many par 4s.
As you get ready for this week’s tournament, be sure to get your DFS fantasy golf lineups and betting cards filled out with help from DraftKings Network! We’ll have ongoing coverage throughout the week to help you enjoy this weekend’s tournament.
