Jacob Bridgeman cards bogey-free 63 to lead Baycurrent Classic as Matsuyama sits four back

Jacob Bridgeman made a strong start in his first event since helping the United States win the Presidents Cup. The American shot a bogey-free eight-under 63 on Thursday 8 October to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club. England's Jordan Smith is second on seven under. Japanese favourite Hideki Matsuyama is four back, and defending champion Xander Schauffele has work to do on one under.

Bridgeman shakes off the jet lag

Bridgeman made eight birdies and no bogeys. He led the field in strokes gained: putting for the round. He came to Japan straight after the Presidents Cup, where he holed the winning putt for the US team, and the 16-hour time difference between Las Vegas and Yokohama left him with jet lag. He said he felt "a little rusty" but recovered well from the few loose shots he hit.

Smith was also bogey-free in his 64. The Englishman has had a solid first full season on the PGA Tour, making 17 of 23 cuts with six top-20 finishes, including a solo third at the Farmers Insurance Open. A win in Japan would be his first on the tour.

The chasing pack

Four Americans are tied for third on six under: Pierceson Coody, Mac Meissner, Ricky Castillo and Max Homa. Homa had five birdies on the front nine and dropped his only shot at the 11th. Meissner was level par at the turn, then made four birdies and an eagle on the back nine. Castillo holed out at the 378-yard par-4 15th.

Keith Mitchell, Kristoffer Ventura, Michael Thorbjornsen, Andrew Putnam and David Lipsky are a further shot back on five under.

Japanese hopes and the defending champion

Japanese players were close to the top on home soil. Matsuyama, who won the PGA Tour's Japan event in 2021, and Ryo Hisatsune are both four under, along with Australia's Min Woo Lee and Collin Morikawa. Schauffele opened with a 70 and is seven shots off the lead. Jordan Spieth (72) and Rickie Fowler (73) are well down the field.

No cut and Malaysia viewing times

The 72-player field plays all four rounds, as there is no 36-hole cut. Yokohama is one hour ahead of Malaysia, so morning play in Japan is early morning in Malaysia. The second round was under way on Friday 9 October when this article was published, and the leaders' scores will have changed by the end of the day. The final round is on Sunday 11 October.

For fans in Malaysia, the event is a rare PGA Tour stop in the region. It gives players such as Matsuyama, Hisatsune and Lee a chance to compete for a PGA Tour title close to home.

Key takeaways

• Jacob Bridgeman leads the Baycurrent Classic on eight under after a bogey-free 63.
• Jordan Smith is one back after a bogey-free 64, and four players share third on six under.
• Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune are four under, while Xander Schauffele is seven back on one under.
• There is no cut in the 72-player field, and the final round is on Sunday 11 October.

FAQ

Who leads the 2026 Baycurrent Classic? After the first round, Jacob Bridgeman leads on eight under par after a bogey-free 63.

Is there a cut at the Baycurrent Classic? No. The 72-player field plays all four rounds without a 36-hole cut.

How is Xander Schauffele doing in his title defence? Schauffele shot a one-under 70 in round one and is seven shots behind Bridgeman.

Sources: PGA Tour, Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports