Xander Schauffele returned to winning ways in the most meaningful setting imaginable, capturing the Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club in Japan and ending a 15-month victory drought that stretched back to his 2024 Open Championship triumph.

The American star fired a final-round 7-under 64 to finish at 19-under par over four rounds, edging out Max Greyserman by a single stroke in a tightly contested finish. Michael Thorbjornsen rounded out the top three at 16-under par.

For Schauffele, the victory represented far more than just his 10th PGA Tour title. Competing in Japan, where his mother grew up, the 32-year-old had family members in attendance throughout the week, including his 81-year-old grandmother who walked the course to watch her grandson compete. The emotional connection to the venue and the presence of his family added layers of significance to a win that had been 15 months in the making.

Since hoisting the Claret Jug at The Open Championship in 2024, Schauffele had endured an uncharacteristic winless stretch. While he remained competitive in the world's biggest events, the victories that had come with relative frequency earlier in his career had proven elusive. That drought came to an emphatic end on the shores of Yokohama Bay.

The victory also carried tangible benefits for Schauffele's standing in the game. The win propelled him back to number three in the world rankings, reaffirming his status among golf's elite players. It was a position befitting a player who has consistently contended in major championships and established himself as one of the most reliable performers on tour.

Greyserman, who has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, pushed Schauffele to the final holes but ultimately came up one shot short of what would have been a breakthrough victory. His runner-up finish, however, continued a trend of strong performances that suggest bigger wins may be on the horizon.

The Baycurrent Classic, played at one of Japan's premier golf venues, provided a worthy stage for Schauffele's return to the winner's circle. The tournament, part of the PGA Tour's Asian swing, has become an important fixture on the schedule and offered a unique opportunity for players to compete in one of golf's most passionate international markets.

For Schauffele, the combination of ending his winless streak, doing so in front of family in his mother's homeland, and reclaiming his position among the world's top three players made the Baycurrent Classic a tournament he will not soon forget. As he walked off the 18th green at Yokohama Country Club, the weight of 15 months without a victory finally lifted, replaced by the familiar feeling of championship golf.