A confident edge in your game is what you get for performing in the initial rounds of a golf tournament. And that’s what Max Greyserman has shown after a good at par round on Saturday at the Baycurrent Classic 2025. Despite the wind and rain brought upon by the typhoon passing through the south of Japan, Greyserman has shown some excellent skills to top the leaderboard after Round 3, tying with the likes of Xander Schauffele.

The World No. 4 has become a huge name, especially after the 2024 season, where he won the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. Competing against these big names can often become challenging if golfers get anxious. But instead, Max showed a positive mindset and didn’t even shy away from dragging in Tiger Woods when asked about preparing for Sunday’s final against Xander. “Well, I played with him today, so there’s one thing I can draw from, but whether I play with Xander or, I don’t know, Tiger in his prime or any other guy out here, it’s the same golf,” said Greyserman at a press conference.

Many golfers have shared their experiences of how playing with these big stars can make someone nervous. 3x PGA Tour winner Patton Kizzire was once paired with Tiger Woods at the 2018 Honda Classic. “I was probably more nervous on the first tee than at any point in either one of my wins,” Kizzire said.

When Woods is part of the field, the number of media, photographers, officials, and fans on the field certainly increases. And while the 15x major winner is accustomed to the theatrics, other golfers usually face the consequences of the pressure and the nerves. The 2025 Ryder Cup star, Rory McIlroy, once said about such an experience playing with Tiger Woods. “I swear, playing in front of all that, he gives up half a shot a day on the field,” McIlroy said. “I need a couple Advil. … I’ve got a headache after all that,” he continued while adding a pinch of humour to it.

One would expect that Greyserman might feel the same pressure. It is not like that for Max, as he aims to win his first PGA Tour title by focusing on the game and not on what’s going on around him. However, he did say that fans are cheering these stars a little more than others.

“So I do think the crowd is rooting for Xander a little more than other people, I could sense that a little bit today,” said Greyserman. Fans tend to enjoy watching some golfers play more than others, whether on the course or on television.

For instance, Schauffele’s duel with LIV Golfer Bryson DeChambeau drove attendance to near-record levels at the 2024 PGA Championship. Similarly, Rory McIlroy’s dramatic victory at the 2025 Masters produced the most-watched final round on CBS since 2018. It received an average of 12.7 million views and a peak of nearly 19.5 million during the playoff moments.

And when it comes to Tiger Woods, there are several examples, like record crowds of 150,000 fans at the 2018 Valspar Championship, the 2015 Wyndham Championship, or pretty much every time Woods has played. In fact, his popularity is such that he can even revive a sinking PGA Tour event.

But regardless of all that, Greyserman is confident in his skills and experience. “Final group on a Sunday, I’ve done that before, done that probably a couple times. Just go out there and do the same thing I do every day,” Max said. Max was a runner-up at the 2024 Zozo Championship. He was tied at 2 with Justin Thomas after scoring a 19 under par 261. Nico Echavarria won last year with a score of 20 under par.

Currently, Max and Xander are tied with a 12-under-par score. Greyserman had a decent start with 4 under par after Round 1, when Xander was on par. And it’s the other way round in Round 3. In Round 2, both scored 8 under par 63.

The weather at Yokohama Country Club can play a role in shaping the outcome of the play.

Weather’s effect on the 2025 Baycurrent Classic

The 2025 Baycurrent Classic became slightly more challenging following the venue change. Previously hosted by Narashino Country Club, the event is now held at a much more challenging Yokohama Country Club course. While the course itself has become a little more challenging, the weather can make it more difficult.

Golfers have dealt with intermittent rain and swirling winds that turned the early rounds into a test of patience and adaptability. The soggy turf and unpredictable gusts forced constant adjustments in club selection and shot shape. Many, including Sahith Theegala and Bud Cauley, said that the new course could penalize bad shots. “I think if the rain stays away, if the greens get a little firmer, you can definitely see some tough scoring out there,” said Sahith Theegala, while Cauley said, “It gives you a little space off the tee, but if you miss, you’re really penalized. And the greens are difficult, especially in the wind today.”

Typhoon Halong has now passed. Therefore, there’s a glimmer of hope that it could be sunny for the final round. However, there are very few chances of that happening. If the weather continues to affect the game, it will become extremely exciting to see who tops the leaderboard.