2025 Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club (West) – Preview

The Baycurrent Classic, previously known as the ZOZO Championship, is the only official PGA TOUR event held in Asia. This year, it is moving from Narashino Country Club to Yokohama Country Club, one of Japan’s most renowned golf courses.

About 20 miles south of Tokyo, Yokohama Country Club was established in 1960 and is a 36-hole facility designed by the late Takeo Aiyama. The West Course was remodeled by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2016. Known for its undulating fairways and dense pine trees, the course will see the field take on a composite of both layouts, including 16 holes from the West Course. As is the case in most “small-field” events, there is no cut this week as all players are guaranteed four rounds.

The Field

Part of the FedExCup Fall Series – a series of events after the FedEx Cup Playoffs – the Baycurrent Classic gives players a chance to earn crucial FedEx Cup points and secure their Tour status for next season.

Although it’s a limited field of 78 players, there are plenty of notables teeing it up at Yokohama Country Club, including defending champion Nico Echavarria, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Wyndham Clark, and Adam Scott.

Invitations go to the Top 60 from last season’s FedEx Cup standings, the top eight from the Japan Golf Tour money list, the winner of the BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup, and nine sponsor exemptions.

Course Features

Yokohama Country Club’s West Course presents a striking blend of natural terrain and strategic architectural refinement. Originally part of a 36-hole facility (East and West) founded in 1960 by designers Takeo Aiyama and Hideo Takemura, the West Course has since seen significant enhancements, including a major renovation by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, which beautifully incorporates the original use of natural valleys and ridges, and which focused on widening the course, strategic bunkering, and improved green complexes.

This week, it will play as a slightly composite course with 16 holes from the West and two from the East. As a par 71 and stretching to 7,315 yards, the course is distinctive in its configuration: it features only two par-5s, three par-3s, and a remarkable 13 par-4s—the most par-4s of any course currently used on Tour. In preparation for this event, 15 of the 18 holes had some type of modifications, including the removal of numerous trees.

Yokohama is renowned for its wide fairways, framed by dense clusters of pine trees, sprawling undulations, and classic Coore and Crenshaw bunkering in key landing zones. The layout combines scoring opportunities with demanding long holes, making it suitable for a wide range of playing styles.

With plenty of room off the tee, it will mostly play as a “bombers’ paradise”, though extremely errant drives will find trouble amidst the trees. The Zoysia rough is non-penal at only around 3″, giving longer players who miss the fairway easier approaches with wedges and shorter irons. The course also offers flexibility: a few of the shorter par-4s can be played as “driveable” if tee boxes are moved forward, offering birdie opportunities for aggressive players.

The main course defense is the bentgrass greens, which have been described as “diabolical” for their false fronts, turtle-back contours, and overall undulation. With so many wedges being hit, spin control will be crucial. The greens are average in size, measuring 6,500 square feet, and should run at a slower 11.5 on the Stimpmeter. The area around most greens is mainly composed of short grass, which means chipping from those areas will have added importance this week.

One of the biggest storylines this week will be the weather. Thursday’s forecast calls for heavy rain—up to an inch—accompanied by gusting winds that could reach 45 mph. Additional showers are expected throughout the weekend, with steady rain projected for much of Saturday and Sunday, potentially turning course conditions soft and challenging as the tournament progresses. Also, wind typically plays a factor with breezes from nearby Tokyo Bay affecting approach shots—especially those from elevated tees.

On the front nine, one of the standout holes is the downhill par-4 4th. It is guarded by a hidden pond to the right and a solitary tree planted in the center of the fairway, which forces thoughtful positioning from the tee. The back nine underscores the course’s punch. The par-3 12th is particularly formidable, playing over water to a raised green flanked by bunkers on both sides.

Most Important Stats For Success at Yokohama CC (West)

*In order of importance

• SG: Approach
• Par 4 BoB%
• Driving Distance
• Proximity 50-150 yds
• SG: Putting (Difficult, Bentgrass)
• SG: ARG (Short Grass)
• Putting 5-15 feet
• Bogey Avoidance
• Good Drive %
• SG: No-Cut events

Key Rabbit Hole Filters

• Course Region: Asia
• Scoring Conditions: Easy
• Field Strength: Strong
• Event Season: Fall
• Event Type: No Cut
• Field Size: Small
• Greens Speed: Slow
• Greens Surface: Bent
• Rough Surface: Zoysia