Japanese giant steps in as PGA Tour’s Japan tournament sponsor

PGA Tour members (from left) Kaito Onishi, Hideki Matsuyama and Rikuya Hoshino at the launch of the Baycurrent Classic in Tokyo on Wednesday. Image courtesy PGA Tour.

By Rahul Banerji

Baycurrent Inc. will support the PGA Tour event which tees off at the Yokohama Country Club on Thursday in a multi-year agreement.

Japan’s leading comprehensive consulting firm to become the new title sponsor of the Baycurrent Classic which will be contested as part of the Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall schedule, the PGA Tour said.

“Since 2019, the Tour’s first and only official event in Japan has played a pivotal role in further connecting the Tour’s and our players to the passionate golf fans of this great country,” commissioner Jay Monahan said.

“The pride Baycurrent holds for both its home country and the game of golf will ensure this tournament continues to make meaningful contributions to our game’s growth in Japan and across Asia while showcasing the world’s best to a global audience.

“We are also excited about the event’s new home, Yokohama Country Club, one of Japan’s premier golf clubs located in close proximity to Tokyo’s city centre.”  

The PGA Tour held its first annually sanctioned tournament in Japan in 2019 with Tiger Woods scoring a dramatic victory while home hero Hideki Matsuyama claimed victory in 2021.

First winner

“We are pleased to welcome Baycurrent as the newest member of our tour family, as they have shown a commitment and passion for further developing the game in Japan,” said Chris Lee, tour senior vice president and MD – APAC.

“Yokohama Country Club is a world-class venue that will truly test our players skills and thanks to Baycurrent’s vision, the event will continue to offer an opportunity for the next generation of Japanese stars to see how they stack up against the best golfers in the world.” 

The Baycurrent Classic, co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, provides opportunities for JGTO players to test their skills. In 2024, 14 JGTO members earned entry into the annual 78-player field based on their performance on the tour, with Yuta Sugiura finishing inside tied for sixth place. 

“We are thrilled to announce our title sponsorship of the Baycurrent Classic in collaboration with the PGA Tour,” said company president and representative director Yoshiyuki Abe.

The Yokohama Country Club, established in 1960, is a 36-hole facility designed by the late Takeo Aiyama. The West Course was remodelled 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.

“Yokohama CCC has been privileged to host some of the biggest golf events in Japan, and starting next year, we look forward to welcoming the world’s best golfers,” said club president Takeyasu Aiyama..

Since 1993, the PGA Tour has had at least Japanese players in its ranks. The present number is four including Hideki Matsuyama, Ryo Hisatsune, Kaito Onishi – who qualified via the Korn Ferry Tour Top 30—and DP World Tour qualifier Rikuya Hoshino.

Five Japanese players shared 16 tour victories, led by Matsuyama, with 10, Shigeki Maruyama with three. Isao Aoki, Ryuji Imada and Satoshi Kodaira have each won once.