PGA Tour Brunch | The 2026 AMEX
PGA Tour Brunch First Round Preview of The American Express
By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk
LaQUINTA - The AMEX marks one of two official PGA TOUR events that uses a pro-am format (along with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) and one of four that is played across multiple courses (others: Farmers Insurance Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The RSM Classic); the only of the four to be played across more than two courses.
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, is making his sixth start at The American Express (3rd/2020, MC/2021, T25/2022, T11/2023, T17/2024) and first start of the 2026 season. He returns to The American Express after missing in 2025 due to an injury to his right hand (sustained in December 2024).
Sepp Straka is the defending champion, and he’s making his sixth start at The American Express. Straka won the 2025 American Express by two strokes over Justin Thomas to earn his third PGA TOUR victory.
Format Reminder from Yesterday:
Competitors rotate the first three rounds between PGA West’s Pete Dye Stadium Course, the Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club
Each professional will be grouped with amateurs for the first three rounds before the low 65 professionals (and ties) will play their final round at the Stadium Course at PGA West.
The courses:
PGA WEST PETE DYE STADIUM COURSE: Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,210
PGA WEST NICKLAUS TOURNAMENT COURSE: Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,147
LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB: Par/Yards: 36-36—72/7,060
The American Express | Tournament Facts
COURSES: PGA WEST (Pete Dye Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course; and La Quinta CC).
YARDS/PAR: 7,210 yards/Par 72 (Pete Dye Stadium)
ARCHITECT: Pete Dye
PRIZE Money - Purse: $9,200,000/$1,656,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Sepp Straka
OVERVIEW: (PGATourCom)
PAST RESULTS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @theamexgolf
How to Watch the 2026 American Express
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - (All Times Eastern)
11:30am to 7:00pm (ET) - Streaming on ESPN+
1:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) - PGA Tour Radio (Sirius XM 92/Online at PGATour.com)
4:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) - Golf Channel
The American Express | The Basics
The Tee Times at The AMEX will begin at 11:30am (ET) and go until 1:42pm (ET).
Weather: Thursday’s forecast is for partly cloudy skies with winds at 4 mph. Temperature reaching 73 degrees and only a 2% chance of rain.
Tournament Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Info: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 11am (ET) on Friday, January 22.
AMEX Field and Tee Times:
The Field: (link)
Tee Times: (link)
What They’re Saying
Last year’s win led to career year for Sepp Straka (Golf Week)
Jack Celebrated his 86th Birthday (Golf Week)
CBS Sports Golf HQ (CBSSportsCom)
How to Watch The American Express (PGATourCom)
Sports Gambling, Golf DFS News
Sleeper Picks at the ‘26 AMEX (PGATourCom)
Expert Picks (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History
January 22, 2016 - Robert Allenby made his 10th career hole-in-one in the second round of the (then) Career-Builder Challenge at LaQuinta. Allenby’s ace came on the 12th hole - Nicklaus Tournament course. He nailed the 165-yard hole with hi 7-iron. (In 2015, Allenby claimed to be ‘abducted’ while at a Tour event in Hawaii. Media scrutiny was intense. The combination of these factors illustrates significantly altered the trajectory of Allenby’s career and personal life). - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt
Holy holing out (further and further) …
Next Up - Farmer’s Insurance Open | Torrey Pines
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