Summary
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Xander Schauffele scored a significant victory in Japan, this time taking home a PGA Tour trophy instead of an Olympic gold medal, capping a challenging year marred by injuries and doubts. On Sunday, Schauffele birdied the 17th hole and finished with a blistering 7-under 64, outlasting Max Greyserman to win the Baycurrent Classic.
With a 19-under 265 total at Yokohama Country Club, Schauffele finished one stroke ahead of Greyserman, who had finished runner-up in this event the previous year as he seeks his first PGA Tour title. “This is really special for me, sooner than I thought, to be honest,” Schauffele said. “I was running out of events in 2025 to make my mark. I’m sure when I look back on 2025 at the end of my career, I’ll smile and think it was a great year.”
Off the course, 2025 was also a big year for him, as his wife gave birth to their first child, Victor, at the end of August. However, he struggled to regain his form after missing two months of competition at the start of the year, following a season in which he won the PGA Championship and the British Open. It was fitting that his victory came in Japan, where his mother and mother-in-law grew up.
Key details
Greyserman, who finished with a 65, was two shots behind Schauffele after his birdie on the 17th hole. To have any chance, he needed to hole out from 190 yards, but his 7-iron shot fell just inches short of the hole, leaving him with an easy birdie.
Schauffele's greatest victory in Japan was the 2021 Olympic gold medal, although it lacked public support due to COVID-19 restrictions. His maternal grandparents live in Japan, and his mother was born in Taiwan but grew up in Japan. His wife's mother was also raised on the island of Okinawa.
“I’ve been coming here since I was about 9 years old to visit my grandparents,” Schauffele said. “I fell in love with this country a long time ago. I can’t wait to bring my son here when he’s old enough to understand and appreciate Japanese culture.”
Schauffele and his wife, Maya, became parents just over six weeks ago. “It’s still new, but being a dad is great, and I’m so excited to be home with him and Maya after this,” Schauffele added.
Statements and context
During the tournament, he was supported by family members, including his 81-year-old grandmother, who walked the course with him. Schauffele mentioned that there will likely be a family reunion later to celebrate. “I don’t see them very often, and they’ve always been generous in coming to events,” he commented. “They’ve been amazing to me, and this is pretty special. I really wanted to share a win with them, so I can’t wait to get together.”
Greyserman held or shared the lead throughout the first three rounds. Michael Thorbjornsen finished with a 64, three strokes behind the winner. Soft conditions and a light breeze led to a low score. American Matt McCarty shot an 11-under-par 60, despite losing a shot on his final hole, and finished nine strokes off the lead. Japanese Takumi Kanaya finished with a 9-under-par 62, five behind the winner. McCarty had a chance for a 58, but hit the trees on his final hole and finished with a bogey and a 60.
Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58 in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship.
