2025 Baycurrent Classic Leaderboard: Sahith Theegala, Adam Scott off the pace
A new title sponsor brought first place to the 2025 Baycurrent Classic as three players – the most in tournament history – found themselves in a share of the lead after opening proceedings at Yokohama Country Club. Brian Campbell, Bud Cauley and Max Grayserman shot identical 67s in the first round of the Baycurrent Classic to climb to the top of the crowded leaderboard at 4 under.
Campbell and Cooley entered the FedEx Cup Fall Championship already in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings — and have qualified for feature events in 2026 — while Grayserman sits in 58th place, on the inside track to remain in the Aon Next 10, which qualifies for the first of next year’s two big-money events.
“I really like the golf course. It’s different than the golf course last year,” Griserman said. “Last year, it was a more straightforward test, kind of tight. Can you put the ball in play? Can you put it on the green? Kind of flat green. This golf course is a lot like Northeast golf: a lot of slopes on the golf course, around the greens, on the greens. So, a lot of putbacks, a lot of putbacks, bunkers, And water drains in the corridors.
“I enjoy playing that style of golf, maybe like the No. 2 type of golf at Pinehurst where everything is looped around the greens. I think it’s probably more fun to play and there’s more creativity. It’s a bit like golf that’s looped around the greens. Yeah, it’s a fun test, a different test. I think it might be one of the best courses we play all year.”
While eyes turn to the top of the leaderboard where the names of these three men are located, directly below them are the names of Adam Scott and Sahith Theegala, who were among eight players to land a first-round 68. Aside from a double bogey on the par-4 18th — his ninth hole of the tour — Theegala was largely perfect as he added five birdies and dropped no more shots through the hole. The other 17 toys.
The result is the degree of quality needed for a free-swinging right-hander after a disappointing 2025 regular season campaign that was plagued by late-injury injuries. What started as an oblique injury at the hands of TGL turned into a neck injury and sidelined Theegala for several months before returning to The Open. Finally healthy, he showed his true form once again.
“We played really well and shot the ball really well from the beginning of the day until the end,” Thijala said. “It was hard to hit anything close today, and the pins were great pins for the conditions. I thought the setup was great considering the wind, and it was very fair. Definitely a lot of scoring chances but also very difficult to putt, and I didn’t make anything. I made one on the last hole, I shouldn’t say that.”
“But hit the ball really hard. I’m really happy with the way things are going. The Napa tournament was probably the first tournament I was back at full strength, so I hit the ball great there as well. I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing, and I know the shots are going to fall eventually. Yeah, it’s been great to be back and feel good again.”
Theegala entered the week No. 151 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 81 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He has work to do to qualify for next year’s majors and majors, but without the pressure of maintaining his PGA Tour membership == Theegala has been exempt until 2026 for his lone PGA Tour win – the 27-year-old begins playing the kind of golf, at least on Thursday, that many have become accustomed to.
Leaders
T1. Brian Campbell, Bud Cowley, Max Griserman (-4)
Can you name the six multi-event winners on the PGA Tour in 2025? Hint: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Ben Griffin and Ryan Fox are five of them. Sixth, of course, is Brian Campbell. Owning the fewest 20s (two) among the win leaders this season — Cowley has four while Griesserman has three — Campbell is once again looking to secure his third win of the season in what can only be described as one of the most unusual years on the PGA Tour.
While he is the shortest hitter on the PGA Tour — Campbell averages 279 yards off the tee — he has proven that when he is in the mix, he is a legitimate contender. Yokohama’s fairways and greens feed his strengths, and he showed that Thursday with five birdies and an eagle in challenging conditions.
“Just be patient,” Campbell said. “I started at 10, so that’s definitely the hardest part. I mean it is [the wind is] Blowing 20 to 30 [miles per hour] Sometimes. Really, I’m just trying to stay in the tournament and save pars when possible, take advantage of the windy openings, and I made some good saves. I played my front nine aggressively and then basically caught fire on the last four holes. “It was just a solid run that turned really good at the end.”
Competitors
T4. Nicolai Hoggard, William Moe, Takumi Kanaya, Kevin Roy, Adam Scott, Sahith Thegala, Sam Ryder, Rico Howie (-3)
T12. Bo Hausler, Alex Noren, Kevin Yeo, Michael Thorbjörnsen, Alex Smalley, Byung-Hun Ahn, Christian Bezuidenhout (-2)
In the young man’s game, Scott continues to persist. The veteran began his round with four birdies in the first six holes to a one-shot lead before a swarm of pars (12 in a row) chipped in for a 67. The tough, windy conditions are ripe for a fit player like Scott to put himself in the contention crowd and stay there.
The 45-year-old, who is always able to fly and change lanes, expressed how the constant winds will help him face his peers. Not only that, if he continues to rise above his baseline — he got just over a stroke down the field Thursday with a broomstick — Scott should like his chances.
“It was tough,” Scott said. “I got off to a great start, hit some shots close to the first few holes and then just started grinding from there. I hit some other good shots, but I actually missed those. I wouldn’t say there should have been a couple better, I’m very happy with that result in this case.”
2025 Baycurrent Classic updated odds, picks
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
- Max Griserman: 12-1
- Bud Cowley: 12-1
- Alex Noren: 14-1
- Adam Scott: 14-1
- Nikolai Hoggard: 16-1
- Rico Howie: 16-1
- Xander Scheufele: 18-1
- Michael Thorbjornsen: 18-1
- Brian Campbell: 20-1
I still like the world number four in this position as Xander Schauffele stands on par and is only four strokes off the early pace. Schauffele didn’t have his best shot in the opening round, but the way he clawed and clawed his way to a 71 was encouraging. He played the easy holes poorly and the difficult holes effectively, and if he is able to capitalize on scoring opportunities over the next 54 holes while also maintaining some comfort on the greens (a welcome sight), then Schauffele should take account of his first victory since lifting the Claret Jug.