YOKOHAMA, Japan – Xander Schauffele’s victory at the Baycurrent Classic may not be the most prestigious of his career, but it will certainly be one of the most memorable for the American golfer.
Schauffele signed a card of 64 strokes, seven under par, on Sunday, securing the triumph in Japan, a country with deep family roots for the player.
With a total of 265 strokes, 19 under par, after four rounds at the Yokohama Country Club, Schauffele beat Max Greyserman by one stroke, who was also runner-up in this event the previous year.
A Triumph with a Taste of Home
Schauffele’s connection to Japan is significant. His maternal grandparents reside in the country, and his mother, with roots in Taiwan, grew up in Japan. Furthermore, his mother-in-law is Japanese and his wife is half-Japanese, having grown up in Okinawa.La madre de Xander Schauffele nació en Taiwán, pero creció en Japón.“I’ve been coming here since I was about 9 years old to visit my grandparents,” Schauffele commented. “I fell in love with this country a long time ago. I’m looking forward to bringing my son here when he’s old enough to understand and appreciate Japanese culture.”
The golfer added that his family’s ties to Japan are very strong.
Recently, Schauffele and his wife Maya became parents, which adds a special meaning to this victory.
“It’s recent, but being a father is incredible and I’m very excited to go home to him and Maya after this,” Schauffele expressed.
Schauffele had the support of his family during the tournament, including his 81-year-old grandmother, who accompanied him on the course. The golfer plans a celebration with his family to celebrate the triumph.
“I don’t see them very often, and they’ve always been generous with their time to come and watch me play. They’ve been incredible with me, and this is something very special. I really wanted to share a victory with them, so I’m looking forward to meeting up with them,” he stated.Xander Schauffele posa con su familia tras ganar el Baycurrent Classic. Sus abuelos maternos viven en Japón, su suegra es japonesa y su esposa es mitad japonesa y creció en Okinawa.Greyserman finished with a round of 65 strokes, while Michael Thorbjornsen culminated with 64 strokes, remaining three strokes behind the winner.
Schauffele, with two major championships to his name, including the Open Championship in 2024 and the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has amassed an impressive list of titles. However, this triumph has a unique sentimental value.
The favorable course conditions allowed for low scores. Matt McCarty signed a card of 60 strokes, eleven under par, finishing nine strokes behind the leader. Takumi Kanaya finished with 62 strokes, nine under par, five strokes behind Schauffele.
McCarty was close to achieving a 58, but a mistake on the last hole led to a bogey and a 60. The PGA Tour record is held by Jim Furyk, with a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.
