#303 THE AMERICAN EXPRESS

#303 THE AMERICAN EXPRESS

3 Courses Pete Dye West Stadium

PGA West & Nicklaus Tournamen La Quinta Country Club Course

LaQuinta CA Jan 22-26, 2026

Purse $9.2M up $700K 8%

HISTORY

Tournament established in 1960 as “The Palm Springs Golf Classic”. From 1965 to 2019 It was renamed “The Bob Hope Desert Classic”. It is a full entertainment event with concerts by Little Big Town, Journey. Last years winner was Sepp Straka who led RDs 3&4.

It has a unique format with pros and amateurs for the first 3 RDs, all pros play with an amateur. Cut after the 3rd RD, and final RD at the Pete Dye Stadium Course.

FAVORITES

1 Scottie Scheffler 2.5/1 Skipped last year due to sever cut on his hand. Has to be favored,

but I think it takes him some time to get his game going.

2 Ben Griffin 17/1 Thought he wold win last week but 3 RDS +par.

3 Sam Burnes 20/1 Could have wo last year but found water on 17&18 to finish 6th.

3 Patrick Cantlay 20/ Finished 5th last year and is due for a win.

3 Ludvig Aberg 20/1 Had an off year in 2025 due to some health issues, may win this one.

6 Russell Henley 22/1 Always a threat but only 19th last week.

7 Robert MacIntyre 25/1 Had low final RD last week.

8 Harry Hall 27/1Last week #2 after 3rd RD but added and finished 6th.

9 Matt Fitzpatrick 27/1 I don’t see him winning but maybe top 10.

10 Sepp Straka 33/1 Rarely does anyone repeat as champion.

MY WINNER I think Aberg will win, and if he does not MacIntyre, who thought he could have won last week, may be most motivated.

MY LONG-SHOTS

Alex Noran 40/1 Won 12 times in Europe, came close last year but still looking for 1st PGA win.

Wyndham Clark 75/1 Won US Open at Pebble Beach in 2023. One of the players not happy with Brook Koepka’s soft penalties to return from LIV to the PGA.

Ryan Gerard 100/1 Finished 2nd last week.

Andrew Novak 125/1 2025 lost at Heritage in playoff to Justin Thomas, won Grant/Thornton. e

Aldrich Potgieter 200/1 Longest hitter on tour, won Rocket Classic in a playoff last year.

Davis Riley250/1 Won Zurich Classic in 2023, Valspar in 2024.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

The 17th is an island green similar to 17 at Sawgrass.

They will only play this hole twice, so watch it when you can.