Presidents Cup hero Jacob Bridgeman carried that momentum into the Baycurrent Classic with an 8-under 63 in the first round Thursday in Yokohama, Japan.
The 26-year-old American’s bogey-free round at Yokohoma Country Club came less than two weeks after he drained the clinching putt for the United States at Medinah.
Bridgeman enters the second round with a one-stroke lead over England’s Jordan Smith. Four players are tied for third at 6-under: Max Homa, Ricky Castillo, Pierceson Coody and Mac Meissner.
Starting on the No. 10 tee, Bridgeman opened with two straight pars and a before heating up. He strung together four straight birdies at holes Nos. 5-8.
“I still felt a little rusty, but I felt good over my iron shots. I guess just a couple things I’m going to go tune up on the range. I felt like I hit it in good spots, I gave myself some pretty easy putts,” Bridgeman said.
It was Bridgeman’s first round since helping the U.S. rally for a 17 to 13 win over the International team, extending the Americans’ streak in the biennial team competition to 11 straight victories.
“Yeah, it was great. We had an amazing Sunday, it was just incredible to be a part of. I don’t know if any team’s ever won that many points on Sunday, so it was pretty cool to kind of see the red on the board the whole day and just kind of ride that momentum,” Bridgeman said. “Yeah, I wouldn’t say I was fatigued or anything after, I just kind of wanted to take a little bit of a rest. We’re technically in the offseason, so just wanted to take a little rest and have some family time.”
Bridgeman’s wave of momentum includes winning his previous event on the PGA Tour at the Biltmore Championship Asheville, just before the Presidents Cup.
Smith nearly kept pace with Bridgeman during his own bogey-free round as he looks to add to a successful first full season on the PGA Tour.
“I’m very, very happy,” Smith said. “Coming over to the PGA Tour, everything’s very, very new, new faces, new places, new golf courses. Yeah, to adapt that quickly, I’m very happy with that. But I’ve enjoyed it a lot, it’s been good fun.”
The four players who carded rounds of 65 got there in different manners.
Meissner was even at the turn before posting four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 fifth hole. Castillo holed out on the 378-yard, par-4 15th hole for an eagle and added five birdies and one bogey. Homa posted seven birdies and a bogey. Coody had six birdies but offset an eagle at the par-5 sixth hole with a double bogey at the par-3 seventh.
