Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele were on the receiving end of one of the most disappointing American Ryder Cup defeats in history.
Team USA’s Sunday comeback saved them from outright humiliation, but Keegan Bradley’s side still lost on home soil for the first time in over a decade after entering the tournament as favourites.
Collin Morikawa was one of the poster boys of the defeat. Morikawa’s pairing with Harris English was beaten on Friday and Saturday by Europe’s star pairing of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.
It would have been easy for both Morikawa and Xander Schauffele to take some well-earned rest over the fall and come back into 2026 fresh and ready to attack the year. But what they did instead should be applauded by golf fans.
Why Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa deserve credit after the Ryder Cup
Just two weeks on from their devastating Ryder Cup loss, both Schauffele and Morikawa are back in action for the Baycurrent Classic in Japan. It’s an event they would have been forgiven for skipping, but their attendance is vital for its success.
The Baycurrent Classic is the only PGA Tour tournament held in Japan. That means it carries massive significance for the tour, as it looks to grow its international presence in Asia.
Now that Japan has a male major winner after Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters in 2021, becoming one of the greatest Japanese golfers of all time, there’s a real opportunity to capitalize on the sport’s popularity.
But the success of these events relies heavily on star power. This is precisely why the presence of two major winners in Schauffele and Morikawa is so essential.
Morikawa is a past winner of the event in 2023 and has played it the last five years. Meanwhile, Schauffele finished in the top ten in 2023 and has also played in Japan since 2020. Schauffele enjoys playing in Japan, praising the course and the fans prior to the Baycurrent Classic this year.
Both players endured difficult 2025 seasons. Schauffele missed the Tour Championship for the first time in his career this season, and some thought Morikawa was lucky to make the Ryder Cup team as a captain’s pick due to his poor performances.
But instead of taking time to reset and recuperate, Schauffele and Morikawa have committed to growing the game, and for that, they deserve immense credit.
Xander Schauffele showing form after Ryder Cup loss
While playing at the Baycurrent Classic is an opportunity to grow the game of golf in Asia, it’s also a chance to Schauffele to play his way back into form.
He won two majors in 2024 and looked to be the man to rival Scottie Scheffler as world number one, but an injury at the start of the 2025 season derailed his year. Schauffele looks to have recovered his form now, though.
Schauffele went 3-1-0 at Bethpage Black, winning his singles match against Jon Rahm 4&3 in an impressive showing. And two weeks later, he’s in contention at the Baycurrent Classic.
A second round 63 moved him to 8-under for the event, four shots off the lead held by Max Greyserman.
He was an elite putter at his brilliant best, and Schauffele has now refound some form on the greens. He is gaining +2.06 strokes by putting at the tournament, according to Data Golf, and his iron play looks to be dialled in once again.
This fall season could be crucial for the American to build confidence into 2026, where he hopes he can once again contend for wins and majors against Scheffler.
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