PGA Tour secures new $5.38 billion net-worth sponsor for its event in Asia
The PGA Tour lost the title sponsor of its premier event in Asia when ZOZO ended its relationship with the tournament. However, the Tour quickly secured a new sponsor.
BayCurrent Consulting Inc. will be the new title sponsor of the PGA Tour event in Japan, which will be called the BayCurrent Classic beginning in the 2025 season. The new title sponsor is a full-service consulting firm with a net worth of $5.38 billion (via Stock Analysis).
In announcing the news, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had this to say (via Tee Time Tales):
"The pride BayCurrent holds for both its home country and the game of golf will ensure this tournament continues to make meaningful contributions to our game’s growth in Japan and across Asia while showcasing the world’s best to a global audience."
Meanwhile, BayCurrent president Yoshiyuki Abe had this to say:
"We are thrilled to announce our title sponsorship of the Baycurrent Classic in collaboration with the PGA Tour."
At the same event, it was announced that the BayCurrent Classic will continue to be part of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall schedule. It was also announced that the event will continue to be co-sanctioned by the Japanese professional circuit and will move from Narashino Country Club to Yokohama Country Club.
BayCurrent Consulting was established in 1998 and is based in Tokyo, Japan. It currently provides comprehensive consulting services to clients in the high-tech, media, telecommunications, automotive and mobility, healthcare, consumer goods, retail, machinery and materials, banking, payments, securities, insurance, power and gas, petrochemical, transportation and logistics, developer, and public sectors.
A look back at the history of the PGA Tour's BayCurrent Classic
The tournament, now called the BayCurrent Classic, was played for the first time in 2019. ZOZO was the title sponsor from the inaugural event through 2024.
The event's first champion was Tiger Woods, making this title the last in Woods illustrious career to date. The 15-time Major champion won with a score of 19 under, three strokes ahead of local idol Hideki Matsuyama.
The other champions of the event are Patrick Cantlay (2020), Matsuyama (2021), Keegan Bradley (2022), Ciollin Morikawa (2023) and Nico Echavarria (2024).
The to-par record for the event (23 under) was set by Cantlay in 2020 when it was played at Sherwood Country Club in California due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The aggregate record (260) was set by Echavarría when he won in 2024, beating by one stroke the previous record set by Tiger Woods in the inaugural edition.
The new venue, the Yokohama Country Club, was established in 1960. It hosted the 1978 Japan Open, won by legendary Spanish player Seve Balesteros.