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Jacob Bridgeman Leads Baycurrent Classic After 63

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 12:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bridgeman Leads Classic

Jacob Bridgeman shot an 8-under 63 to lead the first round of the Baycurrent Classic in Japan.
He finished one stroke ahead of England’s Jordan Smith, who posted a 64.
The round was bogey-free and included four straight birdies.
Bridgeman sank the winning putt for the United States at the Presidents Cup in Medinah.
Four – Max Homa, Ricky Castillo, Pierceson Coody and Mac Meissner – tied for third at 6-under.

Summary

Woods Wins Inaugural

Tiger Woods won the inaugural Zozo Championship in 2019, later renamed the Baycurrent Classic.
Hideki Matsuyama finished runner-up in that first event, three strokes behind Woods.
The tournament moved to California in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yokohama Country Club hosts the event, its debut on the FedEx Fall schedule.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele opened with a one-under 70, remaining outside the top thirty.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the PGA Tour co-sanctioned the Japan Open at Narita Golf Club, marking the first major U.S.-backed event on Japanese soil. The tournament featured 144 players, a $1.2 million purse, and was won by South Korean star K.J. Choi, who earned $216,000. Like that breakthrough, today’s Baycurrent Classic sees American Jacob Bridgeman leading with an 8-under 63, echoing the tournament’s tradition of U.S. contenders challenging Japanese hosts. The event’s legacy encourages cross-continental rivalries, prompting future FedEx schedules to rotate venues between Japan and California, sustaining global tour growth.

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Bridgeman Leads Classic

Jacob Bridgeman shot an 8-under 63 to lead the first round of the Baycurrent Classic in Japan.
He finished one stroke ahead of England’s Jordan Smith, who posted a 64.
The round was bogey-free and included four straight birdies.
Bridgeman sank the winning putt for the United States at the Presidents Cup in Medinah.
Four – Max Homa, Ricky Castillo, Pierceson Coody and Mac Meissner – tied for third at 6-under.

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