A fresh branding partnership inaugurated an unprecedented scenario at the 2025 Baycurrent Classic, as a trio of competitors — the highest number ever witnessed in the tournament’s history — established a joint lead following the initial round at Yokohama Country Club. Brian Campbell, Bud Cauley, and Max Greyserman each recorded scores of 67 in the Baycurrent Classic’s opening round, placing them in a three-way tie for the top position on the tightly packed leaderboard at 4 under par.
Both Campbell and Cauley had already secured their spots within the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings as the FedEx Cup Fall commenced, guaranteeing their participation in the signature events of 2026. Meanwhile, Greyserman held the 58th position, positioning him favorably to remain within the Aon Next 10, which would grant him entry into the first two high-stakes tournaments of the upcoming year.
“I’m quite fond of the layout of this golf course. It presents a different challenge compared to the course used last year,” Greyserman commented. “In the previous year, the test was more straightforward, with a focus on accuracy in a somewhat confined space. The question was simply, ‘Can you keep the ball in play? Can you land it on the green?’ And the greens were relatively flat. This course, however, bears a strong resemblance to golf courses found in the Northeast, characterized by significant undulation across the landscape, around the greens, and on the greens themselves. This results in numerous runoffs, whether into bunkers or off the fairways.
“I find that style of golf, reminiscent of Pinehurst No. 2 where everything is closely shaved around the greens, to be quite enjoyable. It fosters creativity and a more links-style approach around the greens. Overall, it’s a fun and distinctive test. In fact, it might be one of the finest courses we encounter throughout the year.”
While attention is naturally drawn to the top of the leaderboard, where the names of these three players dominate, closely following are Adam Scott and Sahith Theegala. They were among eight individuals who posted a first-round score of 68. Theegala’s round was nearly flawless, save for a double bogey on the par-4 18th — his ninth hole of the day. He compensated with five birdies and avoided any other dropped shots across the remaining 17 holes.
The outcome is an impressive score, particularly crucial for the free-swinging right-hander given his underwhelming 2025 regular season, which was marred by late-season injuries. An oblique injury sustained during a TGL event eventually led to a neck injury, sidelining Theegala for several months before his comeback at The Open. Now fully recovered, he’s starting to display his true capabilities once more.
“I performed exceptionally well, striking the ball consistently from the first tee to the final green,” Theegala remarked. “It was difficult to get shots close to the pins today, as they were positioned perfectly for the conditions. I felt the course setup was fantastic, especially considering the wind; it was very fair. There were certainly numerous opportunities for scoring, but converting putts proved challenging, and I wasn’t able to sink many. Except for the one on the last hole, I shouldn’t say that.
“But my ball-striking was very solid. I’m extremely pleased with how it’s been progressing. Napa was likely my first tournament back at full strength, and I hit the ball great there as well. I need to maintain my current approach, and I’m confident that the putts will eventually start to fall. It’s been wonderful to return and simply feel healthy again.”
Theegala commenced the week ranked No. 151 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 81 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He faces a significant challenge to qualify for major championships and significant tournaments next year. However, without the burden of preserving his PGA Tour membership — Theegala is exempt through 2026 due to his single PGA Tour victory — the 27-year-old is beginning to exhibit the caliber of golf that many have come to anticipate from him, at least on Thursday.
Leaders
T1. Brian Campbell, Bud Cauley, Max Greyserman (-4)
Can you identify the six golfers with multiple victories on the PGA Tour in 2025? Clue: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin, and Ryan Fox comprise five of them. The sixth, naturally, is Brian Campbell. Despite having the fewest top 20 finishes (two) among this season’s winners — Cauley has four, while Greyserman has three — Campbell is once again in contention, aiming for his third triumph of the season in what can only be characterized as one of the most peculiar years in PGA Tour history.
Although he is the shortest driver on the PGA Tour — Campbell’s average drive is 279 yards — he has demonstrated that, when in contention, he is a formidable competitor. The fairways and greens at Yokohama cater to his strengths, which he showcased on Thursday with five birdies and an eagle in the face of demanding conditions.
“Just maintain patience,” Campbell stated. “I began on the 10th hole, which is undoubtedly the more challenging side. The wind was consistently blowing between 20 and 30 miles per hour. My primary focus was simply staying in the tournament and salvaging pars whenever possible, capitalizing on the downwind holes, and I managed to make some excellent par saves. I played my front nine very steadily and then caught fire on my last four holes. Overall, it was a solid round that transformed into a truly exceptional one towards the end.”
Contenders
T4. Nicolai Højgaard, William Mouw, Takumi Kanaya, Kevin Roy, Adam Scott, Sahith Theegala, Sam Ryder, Rico Hoey (-3)
T12. Beau Hossler, Alex Noren, Kevin Yu, Michael Thorbjornsen, Alex Smalley, Byeong Hun An, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (-2)
In a sport dominated by younger players, Scott continues to persevere. The seasoned professional initiated his round with four birdies in his initial six holes, offset by a single dropped shot, before securing a series of pars (12 consecutively) to conclude his round of 67. Windy and challenging conditions favor a skilled player like Scott, enabling him to contend and remain in contention.
With his proven ability to control the trajectory of his shots, the 45-year-old expressed his belief that persistent winds would be advantageous against his competitors. Moreover, if he sustains his putting performance above his baseline — he gained slightly over a stroke on the field on Thursday with his broom stick — Scott should be optimistic about his prospects.
“It was demanding,” Scott reflected. “I made an excellent start, hitting several shots close to the pins in the first few holes, and then simply began grinding from there. I did hit a few other quality shots, but I missed those putts. I wouldn’t necessarily say it should have been a couple of strokes better; I’m quite content with that score given the conditions.”
2025 Baycurrent Classic updated odds, picks
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
- Max Greyserman: 12-1
- Bud Cauley: 12-1
- Alex Noren: 14-1
- Adam Scott: 14-1
- Nicolai Højgaard: 16-1
- Rico Hoey: 16-1
- Xander Schauffele: 18-1
- Michael Thorbjornsen: 18-1
- Brian Campbell: 20-1
I still fancy the world No. 4 in this situation, as Xander Schauffele is at even par and only four strokes off the early lead. Schauffele wasn’t at his absolute best in the opening round, but his ability to battle and grind his way to a 71 is encouraging. He didn’t perform well on the easier holes but excelled on the more difficult ones. If he can capitalize on the scoring opportunities over the next 54 holes while maintaining some comfort on the greens (a welcome development), Schauffele should be a contender for his first victory since lifting the Claret Jug.
