Ryder Cup teammates Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa both opened with level-par 71s on Thursday to sit four shots off the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Classic, as blustery conditions tested the field at Yokohama Country Club.
Americans Max Greyserman, Bud Cauley and Brian Campbell shared the lead after carding four-under 67, coping best with the strong winds caused by a nearby typhoon. Tee times were moved forward in an effort to avoid the worst of the weather.
Schauffele, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, made three birdies but also carded three bogeys, including one on the 18th. Morikawa, the 2023 champion when the tournament was still called the Zozo Championship, saw his round undone by bogeys at the 15th and 16th before birdieing the 17th.
Cauley produced a bogey-free round to join the lead.
“The winds were difficult, just trying to manage that,” said the 35-year-old. “I felt like I hit a lot of good shots, made a couple of putts, and nice to not make any bogeys on a day like today, that was difficult.”
Campbell’s highlight came on the 340-yard par-four 8th, his penultimate hole, when he holed a wedge from 83 yards for an eagle two.
“I actually thought I chunked it,” he said. “But it was straight at the pin and ended up going in the hole, so just one of those days.”
Australia’s 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott was among eight players tied for fourth on three under. He started brightly with four birdies in his opening six holes and embraced the challenging conditions.
“I actually think the wind kind of helps me, so I don’t mind if it blows a little bit tomorrow,” said Scott. “Maybe not this hard, but I’d like to see some wind the rest of the week. I think it kind of levels it all out a bit in my favour.”
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, another former Masters winner, finished with a one-over 72 that included four bogeys and two birdies to lie five shots off the lead.
South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout posted four birdies in a two-under par 69 to share 12th position.
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Article Link: Schauffele, Morikawa struggle at Baycurrent Classic