First Look at The American Express (at LaQuinta)

A low-scoring tournament with a chance for a long shot winner. What more would you want in a professional golf tournament?

The weather report for Thursday calls for isolated showers before 8am (Pacific time) with temperatures in 51-71-degree range. Weekend weather report is much the same. Winds blowing this weekend in 3-7 mph (Thursday) and the 6-12 mph range on Saturday.

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: The American Express

COURSES: Stadium Course, LaQuinta Country Club, LaQuinta, California

Nicklaus Tournament Course to be used as well, PGA West

ARCHITECT: Pete Dye

YARDS/PAR: 7,147 yards/Par 72

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $6,700,000/$1,134,000

DEFENDING Champion: Andrew Landry (2020 Leaderboard link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS of Event: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points/Winner Share for points: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup @theamexgolf @TheAmexGolf

TV COVERAGE: (All on GOLF CHANNEL) Thursday, January 21-to-Sunday, January 24 - 3:00pm to 7:00pm (ET)

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Thursday, January 21-Friday, January 22 - 1:00pm to 7:00pm (ET); Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24 - 2:00pm-7:00pm (ET)

A L👀K at the ODDS and Predictions for the American Express:

Expert Picks via (PGA Tour com)

2021 The American Express odds (via William Hill)

Patrick Cantlay 14-1
Patrick Reed 16-1
Brooks Koepka 18-1
Scottie Scheffler 18-1
Tony Finau 20-1
Sungjae Im 22-1
Matthew Wolff 25-1
Abraham Ancer 30-1
Kevin Na 33-1
Russell Henley 33-1
Rickie Fowler 40-1
Paul Casey 40-1
Cameron Champ 40-1
Phil Mickelson 45-1
Adam Long 45-1
Adam Hadwin 50-1
Lanto Griffin 50-1
Sam Burns 50-1
Patton Kizzire 55-1
Brian Harman 55-1
Si-Woo Kim 55-1
Zach Johnson 60-1
Emiliano Grillo 60-1
Ryan Moore 60-1
Charles Howell 60-1
Aaron Wise 60-1
Gary Woodland 70-1
Alex Noren 70-1
Erik Van Rooyen 70-1
Chris Kirk 70-1
Cameron Davis 70-1
Russell Knox 80-1
Doc Redman 80-1
Talor Gooch 80-1
Sepp Straka 80-1
J.T. Poston 80-1
Joel Dahmen 80-1
Charley Hoffman 80-1
Cameron Tringale 80-1
Lucas Glover 80-1
Matt Jones 90-1
Tom Hoge 90-1
Kevin Streelmam 90-1
Francesco Molinari 100-1
Brendan Steele 100-1
Keegan Bradley 100-1
Chez Reavie 100-1
Scott Piercy 100-1
Nick Taylor 100-1
Peter Malnati 100-1
James Hahn 100-1
Maverick McNeal 100-1
John Huh 100-1

T’s Wedge Edge: Last week’s pick was an unimpressive T-56 with Sungjae Im. Next? How about a good look at Scottie Scheffler? Longshots are the norm and at (18-1) and Scheffler qualifies as a “short” longshot! . If you want to look longer, take a look at Cameron Champ, Matthew Wolff or maybe Doc Redman to round out a lonesome foursome.

What They’re Saying:

AmEx Tourney has a new set of COVID-19 Protocols (Desert Sun)

Tiger Woods Surgery (CBS Sports)

Woods to Miss Farmers and Genesis (Sky Sports)

Jon Rahm Withdraws (Golf Channel)

DJ Trahan Withdraws (ESPN/Associated Press)

Power Rankings Leading into The American Express (PGA Tour com)

#SportsBiz Sporting Goods and the Golf Industry

Thomas Understands Sponsors’ Decisions (ESPNcom)

Pat Perez and his Air Jordans (PGA Tour com)

On This Day in Golf History

January 20, 2002 - Playing in a PGA Tournament for the first time in five months, Phil Mickelson won the Bob Hope Desert Classic for his 20th PGA Tour victory, defeating David Berganio, Jr. on the first playoff hole. At the time, Mickelson became the 34th player to win 20 times and thus secure his lifetime tour exception.

(Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE

Parting Putt:

Best Shots from Last Week’s SONY Open in Hawaii