Few would have imagined heading into 2025 that Xander Schauffele would have to wait until the Baycurrent Classic for his first victory of the year.
Xander Schauffele looked destined to enjoy a big year in 2025. He took a huge step in his career by winning both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship last year. Several players said they would rather have Schauffele’s season over what Scottie Scheffler achieved.
But there is no need to have a similar debate this time around.
Unfortunately, Schauffele missed some of the early part of the season with injury. This year marked the first time in his PGA Tour career that the 31-year-old did not make it to the Tour Championship.
Schauffele’s worst ever result at East Lake is tied for seventh.
The concern for Xander Schauffele despite his victory at the Baycurrent Classic
But the 31-year-old has now followed an impressive Ryder Cup by winning the Baycurrent Classic. He finished one shot clear of Max Greyserman after posting a 64 in the final round in Yokohama.
Understandably, many will hope that the last two weeks prove to be a turning point for Schauffele; an indication that he is getting back to his best again.
But Schauffele only needs to look at one of his Ryder Cup teammates to know that he cannot afford to get carried away.
Three of the six previous winners of the event now known as the Baycurrent Classic have not won again on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods clinched the inaugural title in 2019. Meanwhile, Nico Echavarria‘s most recent victory came in Japan 12 months ago.
Collin Morikawa is the other name on the list. The 28-year-old won by six shots back in 2023. At the time, it appeared to be a positive step in the right direction. Morikawa had gone more than two years without winning on the PGA Tour when he triumphed in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Like Schauffele, Morikawa’s previous win had come at The Open Championship.
The claim Collin Morikawa made after his win in Japan
Morikawa’s current wait for another victory will now pass two years. He has already confirmed that he has played his last event for the season after finishing tied for 14th in Japan.
Schauffele’s drought heading into the Baycurrent Classic was not as long. However, he certainly cannot afford any complacency as he prepares for 2026.
It is worth noting that Morikawa felt that he had found something within his game with his win back in 2023.
“It was incredible. Yeah, it feels incredible. Every win’s so different, and every experience, whether it’s winning or losing, you learn a lot, but this one just meant the world,” he said, after his final round in 2023.
“I mean, obviously having this kind of two-year drought, you know, just struggling at times, not really contending, to do what I did through this entire week, Thursday, Friday, and then how I started my round yesterday with a double bogey, it just — that’s the golf I miss playing. To see that and to see it again, it’s very exciting kind of just to close out this year and head into next year.”
Morikawa has certainly threatened to get back to the highest level. He finished second at The Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this year. However, he has had one top 10 since The Masters. That came at the Rocket Classic.
He was relying on a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup. And Morikawa was at the centre of one of Keegan Bradley’s more baffling decisions, as he played alongside Harris English in both foursomes sessions at Bethpage.
His tied match with Tyrrell Hatton on Sunday – which confirmed Europe’s victory – was his only contribution to the scoreboard all week.
With Scottie Scheffler so dominant and Rory McIlroy largely driven by competing in the biggest events, winning in 2026 is likely to be even tougher for a number of world-class players.
Schauffele provided a reminder of his world-class ability this week. However, there is surely a lot more work to be done before he is back near the summit of the game.
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