Baycurrent Classic picks 2026: The sneaky reason we love Wyndham Clark this week
The FedEx Cup Fall rolls on in Japan this week, and some big-time players are in the field. Xander Schauffele is the favorite, while reigning U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark is just behind. Fellow Presidents Cuppers Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas round out the top five on the odds board.
A number of our experts are eyeing Clark, not only because he had a strong week at Medinah despite his 1-4-0 record, but for a sneaky, agronomy-related reason.
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, Ryan Noonan of Betsperts, David Gordon of ESPN, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2026 Baycurrent Classic:
| Experts | Pick to Win | Dark Horse | Miscellaneous Prop of the Week | Pick to Finish Top-10 | Matchups |
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Baycurrent Classic picks 2026: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Wyndham Clark (16-1, FanDuel) — The performance was much better than the results for Clark at the Presidents Cup, which has seemingly bumped the three-time PGA winner this year down the odds board a bit. And now Clark gets a perfect course for him. His IN/OUT splits on Zoysia fairways are excellent (two of his wins this year came on Zoysia in only three starts), and his putting splits on easy greens (which these are) against difficult greens are the best in the field.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Wyndham Clark (16-1, FanDuel) — Do not be fooled by Wyndham Clark’s 1-4-0 record at Medinah. Clark was a ball-striking machine and impressive with the putter. Wyndham finished third for the week in SG/total and fourth for putting. Translate that fine form to a venue that suits Clark along with the agronomy. The only two-time winner on Zoysia fairways this season, Wyndham’s a combined 47 under par in those two tournaments. What better way to finish off an incredible year than with a fourth win in the fall?
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Wyndham Clark (16-1, FanDuel) — The unique layout at Yokohama CC emphasizes par-4 play, so I’ve leaned heavily on a combination of SG/Par-4, Par-4 scoring average, and Par-4 birdie-or-better rate when building my model at Betsperts Golf this week. That bodes well for Dub this week. He’s also an excellent bentgrass putter, and his around-the-green game chops on short grass are elite. I’m not sure how good “the grape” is in Japan, but let’s find out.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Kurt Kitayama (33-1, BetRivers) — I loved the point Ron Klos (@PGASplits101 on X) made in our DFS article on GolfDigest.com this week on Kitayama. He has four top-30s in his past five starts in Asia, including a fifth-place and a 16th in the past three years. Kitayama also rates out near the top of the field in the ball-striking categories, so it’s a decent bet this week.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Ryan Gerard (22-1, DraftKings) — Gerard is hardly coming in under the radar at these odds, but after the disappointment of being left off the Presidents Cup team, he’s quietly put together a nice stretch on the DP World Tour. Now he heads to the Baycurrent where he’ll run into a number of guys that just represented the U.S. side at Medinah, which should only further motivate him toward picking up that first win.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Sungjae Im (33-1, BetRivers) — Sungjae Im really impressed at the Presidents Cup, leading the field in approach play. Im’s irons have been a weakness over the last year despite solid driving, and great chipping and putting. If he has finally fixed this weakness, Im could be very dangerous going forward.
David Gordon, ESPN Research: Alex Smalley (48-1, DraftKings) — We just saw Austin Smotherman get his first career PGA Tour win (100th start); why not make it back-to-back first-time winners? Smalley finished tied for fourth at this venue last year and with over 150 career starts under his belt, I figure it's only a matter of time before he claims a win.
Past results: With Andy Lack’s correct prediction of Scottie Scheffler to win the Tour Championship at +345, the panel now has eight outright winners in 2026. That was Andy’s first win of the year, and it came on the heels of Keith Stewart and Pat Mayo’s first win of the year, Wyndham Clark at the BMW Championship. Ryan Noonan has four winners and Steve Hennessey has three. Onto the fall we go, and with a new member of the panel! Welcome David Gordon of ESPN, who you may also know as the “double hammer” king.
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Baycurrent Classic picks 2026: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Mayo: Nick Taylor (115-1, DraftKings) — Look, nothing points to Taylor emerging from the clouds to win outside of his history of doing just that. It’s a play on his odds relative to the players in front of him. Nick Taylor wins PGA Tour golf tournaments the 30 or so players ahead of him on the odds sheet don’t. Taylor is far more likely to finish T-56 than win, but of all the players in this field, especially near the bottom, he’s the only one closing when in contention. We’re trying to hit winners, not top 20s.
Stewart: Billy Horschel (100-1, FanDuel) — In the last four years, Billy Horschel has two PGA Tour and two DP World Tour wins. Both of those overseas wins came in the fall at the BMW PGA Championship. A traveler for his entire career, Horschel has already played both fall series events. Number 100 on the FEC points list, Billy cannot take any weeks off until he wins or cashes in a couple of high finishes. A T-13 last week in the Black Desert, Yokohama CC is a much better fit for this ball-striker. A parkland course scoring machine, Horschel has the complete skill set needed to make the Baycurrent career win number 11.
Noonan: Billy Horschel (100-1, FanDuel) — After another strong showing in Utah, Billy Horschel has now gained strokes on approach in 10 of his past 11 starts. He’s also now gained strokes putting in four straight starts after struggling on the greens for most of the spring and summer. It’s been a while since Horschel finished inside the top 10, but I think he’s live in this small-field, no-cut event with his current form.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Nick Taylor (115-1, DraftKings) — I’m with Mayo here. It’s a play on these high odds and banking on Taylor entering this week with a ton of confidence after a really strong Presidents Cup, plus some good stretches last week in Utah.
Powers, Golf Digest: Jackson Suber (53-1, DraftKings) — Andy took the words out of my mouth. No way I’m hopping off the Suber train now. Plan to keep on riding with him as long as he tees it up in 2026. Naturally, he won’t win until sometime late next season in a random event where he’s 125-1 and we all forgot he existed.
Lack: Jackson Suber (53-1, DraftKings) — I have been riding Jackson Suber for every event this fall swing, and I am going to give him one more go at the Baycurrent despite a disappointing finish in Utah last week. Suber continues to gain strokes in both ball-striking categories, and it is only the putter that has been holding him back.
Gordon: Max Greyserman (65-1, DraftKings) — A tie for 10th at the Biltmore was followed by a missed cut in Utah last week, but Greyserman finished runner-up by just a shot to Xander Schauffele here last year and has been inside the top five through 36 holes in two of his last three starts.
Baycurrent Classic picks 2026: Miscellaneous prop
Mayo: David Lipsky End of Round 1 Leader (110-1, DraftKings) — Lipsky’s irons have stabilized to start the fall swing after limping to the finish line to conclude the regular season. Almost no chance he contends this week, but after Wyndham Clark, he was the best play in the IN/OUT splits for Zoysia and easy greens, so seeing him flash for a single round isn’t impossible. I’m just hoping it’s the first round.
Stewart: Nico Echavarria Top-20 finish (+300, FanDuel) — There must be something about Japanese culture (or courses) that Nico Echavarria likes. In two Japan starts on the PGA Tour, Echavarria won the Zozo in 2024 and finished ninth last year at the Baycurrent Classic. Nico is near the leaders of this field in SG/putting, bonus putting, and scrambling. With three wins in his short PGA Tour career, when Echavarria shows signs of life at any course, he must be treated as a contender.
Noonan: Ryan Gerard Top-20 finish including ties (-140, DraftKings) — Ryan Gerard has made three starts in Europe this fall, keeping his game in shape after his Presidents Cup snub. His approach play has spiked over his past two starts, so I like the form he’s bringing to Japan, and Gerard is one of, if not the, best bentgrass putters in this field.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Jackson Suber, top-20 finish including ties (+170, DraftKings) — We’ll stop chucking up 3s with my FRL bets and get one on the board here this fall.
Powers, Golf Digest: Sungjae Im End of Round 1 Leader (35-1, DraftKings) — Sungjae was already heating up with the putter late in the summer, then he finally got the irons to cooperate at the Presidents Cup, putting together a strong 2-2-1 performance. Let’s ride the hot hand.
Lack: Keita Nakajima End of Round 1 Leader (44-1, DraftKings) — Keita Nakajima is out early on Thursday morning at Yokohama. With dozens of Japan Tour starts under his belt, Nakajima should be fairly comfortable here, and he gained over a stroke in both ball-striking categories a few weeks ago at the Biltmore Championship.
Gordon: Lee Hodges End of Round 1 Leader (61-1, DraftKings) — Fresh off a closing 64 in Utah, Hodges just had the best ball-striking tournament of his 2026 (19 starts). He's in the last group of the day on Thursday, which at the very least maximizes the sweat.
Misc. Prop Results from the Bank of Utah Championship: Noonan: 1 for 1 (Billy Horschel top-20 finish incl. Ties +225); Lack: 1 for 1 (Winning Score UNDER 263.5 -162); Mayo: 0 for 1; Powers: 0 for 1; Stewart: 0 for 1; Gordon: 0 for 1; Hennessey: 0 for 1
Misc. Prop Results from the 2026 season: Lack: 3 for 6 (up 6.42 units); Noonan: 2 for 6 (up 3.25 units); Mayo: 1 for 6 (up 3 units); Powers: 2 for 6 (up 1.68 units); Stewart: 2 for 6 (up 1.6 units); Gordon: 0 for 2 (down 2 units); Hennessey: 0 for 6 (down 6 units)
Baycurrent Classic picks 2026: Matchups
Mayo: Sungjae Im (-105) over Doug Ghim (Coolbet) — People love Ghim this week. I don’t. We saw him fail under slight pressure on Sunday last week in his runner-up in Utah. And this week he isn’t playing against a Korn Ferry field. These are real guys he needs to beat. Like Sungjae. Who is simply better.
Stewart: Johnny Keefer (-114) over Alex Smalley (DraftKings) — Alex Smalley has not played competitive golf since early September in England at the BMW PGA, where he finished T-62. Many will point to his fourth place at the 2025 Baycurrent, but he played the week before at the Sanderson Farms. Meanwhile, Johnny Keefer finished T-7 at the Biltmore and T-10 in the Black Desert. Keefer’s scoring has caught up to his ball-striking and will continue this strong run.
Noonan: Collin Morikawa (-111) over Hideki Matsuyama (FanDuel) — Hideki Matsuyama’s late-season putting woes carried over to Medinah, making him hard to trust on a week-to-week basis. We just saw these two go head-to-head in Sunday singles at the Presidents Cup, and I’m going back to the well on Morikawa.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Ryan Gerard (-114) over Doug Ghim (DraftKings) — Give me the longer sample size of stellar play here over Ghim.
Powers, Golf Digest: Wyndham Clark (+122) over Xander Schauffele (DraftKings) — Am I crazy or has Wyndham Clark not clearly been the better golfer over the last five months? Well, maybe the “higher ceiling” golfer is a better way of phrasing it. Xander is gonna Xander, which is to say he’ll play very solidly and post a top-20 finish. But if Wyndy plays to his ceiling, he’ll be contending for a fourth win since late May. Xander’s last win? This event last year.
Lack: Kurt Kitayama (-105) over Adam Scott (BetCris) — I am surprised that Kurt Kitayama is an underdog in this matchup to Adam Scott, who was far from impressive at the Presidents Cup. Kitayama has been the number one player in this field in approach skill from 150-200 yards, and has two prior top-20 finishes at this event.
Gordon: Adam Scott (-124) over Maverick McNealy (DraftKings) — Four straight top-20 finishes for Scott including all three playoff events -- I'm laying the juice against McNealy, who has just two top 20s in his last eight starts.
Matchup Results from the Bank of Utah Championship: Noonan: 1 for 1 (Smith (-139) over Cole); Lack: 1 for 1 (Homa (+100) over R. Hojgaard); Powers: 1 for 1 (James (+114) over Koivun); Mayo: 1 for 1 (Hall (+110) over Penge); Gordon: 1 for 1 (Hoey (-108) over Meissner); Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Smith (-139) over Cole); Stewart: 0 for 1
Matchup Results from the 2026 season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Noonan: 19-12-4 (up 5.04 units); Lack: 21-12-2 (up 5 units); Stewart: 18-12-3 (up 4.01 units); Powers: 20-15-0 (up 3.48 units); Mayo: 18-15-2 (up 3.13 units); Gordon: 1 for 2 (down 0.07 units); Hennessey: 14-18-3 (down 5.37 units)
Baycurrent Classic picks 2026: Top 10s
Mayo: Nico Echavarria (+750, FanDuel) — A win and T-9 in his only trips to Japan, so he’s quite comfortable in the country, regardless of course, apparently. You always want Nico on easy greens, and the putting surfaces at Yokohama Country Club are just that. Give him a chance to pay off his pin seeking ways.
Stewart: Jacob Bridgeman (+250, BetRivers) — Walking with Jacob Bridgeman at the Presidents Cup, my PGA eyes could see Bridgeman’s win and prior back-to-back top-nine results in the FedEx Cup Playoffs were no fluke. The leading par 4 scorer in the field, with 13 par 4s on the card at Yokohama Country Club this week, watch Jacob continue his hot run with a fourth top 10 in a row.
Noonan: Doug Ghim (+230, FanDuel) — Given his recent form, it’s hard to argue with Doug Ghim’s price in the market this week. Ghim has finished T-20 or better in four straight outings and six of his past eight, highlighted by his solo second-place finish last week in Utah. His ball-striking is never the issue, but his putter has gotten on board of late, which is something we can never say when handicapping Ghim. He’ll contend again, but I can’t pay 25-1 for him to win.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Nico Echavarria (+750, FanDuel) — Again, you’d have to think Echavarria will come in off a bit of a high from the Presidents Cup, feeling confident after taking Scottie Scheffler to the 17th hole in their singles match. And he comes back to a course where he’s won and finished in the top 10 in two starts.
Powers, Golf Digest: Max Greyserman (+495, DraftKings) — While it’s been at two different courses, Greyserman has finished runner-up in back-to-back years in this event. Clearly, something about Japan speaks to him.
Lack: Collin Morikawa (+175, FanDuel) — It’s a boring one, but I would be very surprised if Collin Morikawa didn’t play well this week. Morikawa was one of the best approach players in the Presidents Cup and now returns to a golf course where he finished 14th last year. His accuracy off the tee and elite middle iron play should continue to pay dividends at Yokohama.
Gordon: Kurt Kitayama (+335, BetRivers) — It's an off week for top-10 machine Ben James, sadly, but Kitayama seems worth backing for a high finish this week at an event he's previously finished fifth. Hasn't competed since the FedEx Cup Playoffs; co-led through 18 holes two starts ago.
Top-10 results from the Bank of Utah Championship: Noonan: 1 for 1 (Ben James +225); Gordon: 1 for 1 (Ben James +225); Everybody else: 0 for 1
Top-10 results from the 2026 season: Mayo: 10 for 35 (up 34.55 units); Lack: 9 for 35 (up 8.2 units); Noonan: 11 for 36 (up 7.6 units); Gordon: 2 for 2 (up 5.1 units); Stewart: 8 for 35 (up 0.55 units); Powers: 7 for 35 (down 3.43 units); Hennessey: 6 for 35 (down 10.6 units)
About our experts
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor and content partner with Golf Digest. Stewart is a co-founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the PGA Tour, LPGA and TGL. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter for the industry's best betting narratives. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Ryan Noonan is the Betting Content Manager for 4for4 and Betsperts Golf, writing articles and hosting multiple shows under the Betsperts Group umbrella, including Move The Line and our Betsperts Golf Betting Show. Find him on Twitter: @RyNoonan.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.
David Gordon is a research producer at ESPN with a specialty in golf and betting research. The two-time Emmy winner has served as ESPN’s broadcast researcher for the Masters dating back to 2020 and the PGA Championship since 2021. Find him on Twitter: @dgord_tweets.