A Week of New Venues, Title Defenses, and Major Implications: Professional Golf’s Global Circuit Delivers High Stakes
In this week’s “Playing Through,” PGA Professional Brendon Elliott examines the compelling storylines across three major tours as the PGA TOUR ventures to Japan at a new venue, the DP World Tour returns to Madrid for the Spanish Open, and the LPGA Tour kicks off its Asia swing in Shanghai.
PGA TOUR: Yokohama Debut Brings Elite Field to Japan
The PGA TOUR makes a significant change this week, moving the Baycurrent Classic to Yokohama Country Club for the first time. Located approximately 25 miles south of Tokyo, the par-71, 7,315-yard layout presents a fresh challenge for a limited field of 78 players, which includes 13 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Schauffele’s Emotional Return to His Mother’s Homeland
World No. 4 Xander Schauffele headlines the field as the betting favorite at +1000. The two-time major champion returns to Japan with deep personal connections. His mother’s side of the family hails from Tokyo, where his maternal grandparents still reside. He won Olympic gold on Japanese soil at the 2021 Tokyo Games, a triumph that resonated deeply with his family heritage.
This marks Schauffele’s first PGA TOUR start since finishing T28 at the BMW Championship and his first tournament appearance since becoming a father. The 31-year-old arrives in Japan seeking his first victory since capturing The Open Championship in July 2024.
Already a winner in Asia with the 2018 WGC-HSBC Champions title, Schauffele has also conquered another Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restoration at Kapalua’s Plantation Course. Yokohama Country Club, redesigned by the legendary Coore-Crenshaw team in 2015, should suit his game perfectly.
Morikawa and Matsuyama Complete the Headliners
Collin Morikawa brings his own compelling narrative to Yokohama. The six-time TOUR winner captured this event in October 2023 at the previous venue in Chiba, posting the largest margin of victory in tournament history at six strokes. That remains his most recent PGA TOUR victory, now 43 starts ago. What makes Morikawa particularly dangerous is his ability to excel on unfamiliar courses. He hits almost 71 percent of fairways (fourth-best on TOUR) and ranks third in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green.
Native son Hideki Matsuyama represents Japan’s greatest golfing hope. The 11-time PGA TOUR winner has more victories than any Asian player in TOUR history. He owns both a victory (2021) and a runner-up finish (2019) at this event. Yet Matsuyama’s 2025 season has been puzzling. His Sentry victory in January stands as his only top-10 finish in 22 starts.
Defending champion Nico Echavarria faces a daunting challenge: becoming the first player to successfully defend at the Baycurrent Classic. Only one player has defended a title on TOUR this season, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the Memorial Tournament.
DP World Tour: Spanish Open Returns with Sustainability Focus
The DP World Tour makes its first visit to Spain this season with the Open de España presented by Madrid. The tournament returns to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, where Angel Hidalgo will defend his maiden DP World Tour title earned in spectacular fashion 12 months ago.
Hidalgo’s Storybook Defense
The 27-year-old Spaniard captured hearts last year by defeating three-time winner and two-time major champion Jon Rahm in a playoff. After Rahm’s chip slipped past on the second playoff hole, Hidalgo sealed victory with a two-foot putt.
“Two or three years ago, I was on the first tee, in the trees, supporting Jon. Without playing, I just came here to Madrid to see the tournament,” Hidalgo said after his victory. “To be here and win the tournament is unreal.”
Since that triumph, Hidalgo has recorded just one top-10 finish. But it came last month at the Amgen Irish Open against a world-class field. Despite relatively indifferent form, the home favorite remains confident.
Rahm Seeks to Surpass Seve
Fresh off helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Jon Rahm returns seeking to surpass the late, great Seve Ballesteros with a fourth Open de España victory in the DP World Tour era. The 2018, 2019, and 2022 champion will attract the biggest galleries as he looks to reclaim the trophy.
Rahm is joined by fellow Ryder Cup hero Shane Lowry, who holed the putt that clinched Europe’s victory. The Spanish contingent is deep, featuring past champions Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello, as well as recent winners Eugenio Chacarra, Alejandro del Rey, and Pablo Larrazábal.
Major Championship Implications
This week carries added significance as part of the new qualification criteria for major championships. An invitation to the Masters Tournament and exemption into The Open Championship are on offer to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut.
The Open de España also continues its commitment to sustainable event management. Since 2021, the tournament has offset the entirety of its emissions. This year, it will measure its water footprint and give that back, plus 10%, by creating clean water in collaboration with Javea Desalination Plant in Spain. Last year, the event produced 30,000 cubic meters of clean water and has planted over 6,000 trees since 2021.
LPGA Tour: Shanghai Kicks Off Asia Swing
The LPGA Tour begins a five-week string of events known as the Asia swing with the Buick LPGA Shanghai. The fifth edition welcomes 82 of the top players to Qizhong Garden Golf Club for a 72-hole, no-cut tournament with a $2.2 million purse.
Ruoning Yin Defends on Home Soil
Ruoning Yin returns to her native China seeking to defend her title after a dominant performance last year. She set a new 72-hole scoring record of 263, giving up just three bogeys all week. During the final round, she birdied five of her last six holes to blitz the field and win by six strokes.
This marks Yin’s first start since the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, where she missed her second consecutive cut. The extended break could prove beneficial as she looks to recapture the magic that made her nearly unbeatable in Shanghai last October.
Historic Different Winners Streak on the Line
When Youmin Hwang won the LOTTE Championship last week, she became the 26th different winner this season. That matched a record set in 1995 and equaled only in 2018 and 2022. If there’s no repeat winner this week in Shanghai, a new LPGA Tour record of 27 different champions would be established.
Ten players who have already won this season are in the field. All have a chance to become the first two-time winner of 2025. That group includes Carlota Ciganda, Jin Hee Im, Jennifer Kupcho, Minjee Lee, Somi Lee, Rio Takeda, Jeeno Thitikul, Miranda Wang, Miyu Yamashita, and Angel Yin.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul returns to Shanghai after finishing T5 last year. The Thai star is making her first start since a heartbreaking loss at the Kroger Queen City Championship, where she four-putted the 72nd hole to finish runner-up to Charley Hull. That marked Thitikul’s second consecutive runner-up finish, making this return particularly significant as she looks to convert her recent strong play into victories.