Niall Lyons Golf Betting Tips for the 2026 Baycurrent Classic

Formerly the Zozo Championship this event has moved from it's usual home at Narashino to a new golf course at the Yokohama Country Club both last year and now this. Narashino was a tight, tree lined venue and this is similar in many ways but fairways are much wider and easier to hit.

This course was redesigned by Coore and Crenshaw in 2016 and if you want to look to other courses they have had an influence with look to the Sentry in Hawaii, Pinehurst no2 and more importantly Trinity Forest which has held a few editions of the Byron Nelson.

Trinity Forest had Zoysia grass from tee to green which is the same here at Yokohama and that grass in particular can cause havoc with approach play with it being difficult to control distance. That played out last year and it was indeed scrambling that played a big part in proceedings.

It appears to be setup for the bombers with no significant rough and the main test will come around the greens with some severe false fronts and plenty of undulations. 

Last year's winner Xander Schauffele warrants plenty of consideration seeing he was only a couple of pts bigger for the Tour Championship 5 weeks ago. Whilst 40pts separated him and Jacob Bridgeman in that event, only 11 points or so separate them now and that doesn't quite seem right. He had a somewhat sketchy Presidents Cup winning 2pts from a possible four but he remains a big danger in this part of the world.  At the prices I just prefer a handful over the favourite.

Baycurrent Classic Tips

Sungjae Im at 25/1 (Eight Places)

It may just be the right time to take the plunge with Sungjae Im. The focus this week has to be on and around the greens and in these departments Im excels. The Zoysia grass makes approach play difficult resulting in plenty of missed greens and the slopes around these surfaces mean that short game comes to the fore. We also have the advantage that Im's weakness of late (his approach play) is somewhat levelled this week given approach play becomes a shade more difficult for the entire field. Im was one of only two players who held up their side of the bargain on Presidents Cup Sunday when he dispatched of Sam Burns quite comfortably. He has plenty to be proud about during that week but truth be told there are signs returning to his game that suggests a victory isn't too far away. He lay 2nd at halfway in the Open Championship in July and held the same position at the same stage of St Jude. He lay 4th at halfway in his last tournament start at Bellerive. He led the Valspar after rounds 2 and 3, led at Quail Hollow at halfway and lay 2nd at through 36 at Craig Ranch also. Slowly but surely Sungjae is putting himself back into positions to win. An event in Japan may just be perfect and it's worth noting that he has form figures of 3-5-13-8-5 at Kapalua. Everything points towards this even coming at the perfect time and land his 3rd PGA Tour win four years after his second. 

2.5pts each-way S.Im  25/1  (1/5 8) Coral, Ladbrokes

Michael Thorbjornsen at 25/1 (Eight Places)

Having backed Michael Thorbjornsen to his maiden victory at the Rocket Classic in August I can see similar play out here and he should be suited by the course. Like Detroit, this course looks perfect for the bombers witht hem dominating proceedings last year and indeed more rain in 2026 means we could see similar play out. If there is a weakness in his game at all it is with the putter but he's very decent around the greens and that's key to scoring this week. The manner in which he won the Rocket Classic was telling stretching away from the field during the back 9 and not relenting even on the final hole when holing a long putt when he could have been excused for rolling it up hole side. That reminded me of Rahm and his early heroics at Torrey Pines and although question marks remain of whether he will reach Rahm's heigh during his career, that victory should see him settle much easier and maybe become a little more assured week to week. Runner up that week was of course Xander Schauffele which bodes well for Yokohama this week and providing he can hit the ground running from a break I really like his chances. 

2.5pts each-way M.Thobjornsen  25/1  (1/5 8) Coral, Ladbrokes

Steven Fisk at 55/1 (Eight Places)

Another with a recent victory in the Summer who I am keen to get on side with this week is Steven Fisk. Fisk got over the line for his second PGA Tour victory at Hursbourne in July when he won the ISCO in a playoff. Alongside him in that playoff was Taylor Pendrith another bomber off the tee who we were sadly on that week. I was taken by the manner in which Fisk won that Sunday not putting a foot wrong on the back 9 and scrambling really well on numerous occasions when the pressure was ramped up. I mentally noted that for future occasions where bomber friendly golf courses where an importance on scrambling present themselves. He missed three cuts after that victory which can be somewhat excused but has gotten things together again following the break finishing 22nd at the Biltmore then 7th last week in Utah. Fisk ticks all the boxes course wise and can be backed at a really nice price. 

1.5pts each-way S.Fisk  55/1  (1/5 8) Bet365