Two-time major champion Jon Rahm is leaving LIV Golf and will not participate in any reworked version of the league, his attorney said Wednesday during a bankruptcy court hearing. Rahm's departure is the latest major blow to LIV as it attempts to rebuild following the loss of its previous financial backing. The Spanish superstar joined LIV in December 2023 in one of the league's biggest signings, but now finds himself listed as LIV's largest unsecured creditor, with over $7 million owed to him for the third quarter of 2026 alone. What comes next for Rahm remains unclear. A return to the PGA Tour is the most likely long-term outcome, but the Tour has not committed to a clear pathway for former LIV players following the league's financial collapse, leaving the Spaniard's competitive future for 2027 uncertain.

Keith Mitchell put together a very steady 2026, recording just three missed cuts to go along with six top-25 finishes through 23 events. He now looks to keep it going at the Baycurrent Classic. His statistical profile matches his strong results, ranking 32nd in total strokes gained (+0.641 strokes per round), fourth off the tee (+0.646), 64th on approach (+0.184), and 67th in total driving. His short game is where he struggles, ranking 105th around the greens and 107th in putting. His most recent start at the FedEx St. Jude Championship was one of his best putting performances of the season, gaining +1.66 true strokes with the flat stick. Given how solid he has been all year, combined with his T10 at Yokohama Country Club last year, and Mitchell is set up for another strong performance this week.

Kurt Kitayama has found a lot of success this season, missing only two cuts while recording 11 top-25 finishes, including a runner-up at the Genesis Invitational. He now turns to the Baycurrent Classic looking to keep the strong run going. On the year, Kitayama ranks 26th in total strokes gained (+0.720 strokes per round), 34th off the tee (+0.318), ninth on approach (+0.608), and 22nd in total driving. The only thing holding him back from more consistent top-end results is his putting, where he ranks 105th and is losing -0.120 strokes per round. On top of this, he ranks in the 96th percentile in approach play from 150-200 yards, a range that should prove important this week. Kitayama finished T48 at Yokohama Country Club last season, but he is playing some of the best golf of his career and looks set up for another strong tournament.

Brian Harman has not found the success he was hoping for this year, recording just one top-10 finish, a T3 at the 3M Open. He now looks to find another strong finish at the Baycurrent Classic. Harman ranks 54th on approach (+0.252 strokes per round) and 48th around the greens (+0.252), but has struggled off the tee, losing -0.234 strokes per round and ranking 130th. He also ranks 128th in total driving. Harman is making his course debut at Yokohama Country Club, where good driving and strong approach play should be rewarded. If he can find fairways and maintain his precision on approach, he can hang around the leaderboard, but his lack of upside makes him more of a risky play this week.