By TERRY LYONS
LA QUINTA - The American Express is the first PGA Tour event to be held in the “lower 48” for 2023. It will feature 2018 American Express champion Jon Rahm who is making his first start since winning the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions early .
Expect a tight leaderboard this week since The American Express became a 72-hole event in 2012, the winner's margin of victory has not been more than two strokes in any year. In that span, there have been three playoffs, four one-stroke wins and four two-stroke victories. Last season, Hudson Swafford won by two strokes over Tom Hoge. The most recent playoff was in 2018 (Jon Rahm def. Andrew Landry).
Patrick Cantlay is making his fifth start at The American Express and has three consecutive top-10s (T9/2019, DNP/2020, 2nd/2021, 9th/2022; missed the cut in 2013 competing on a sponsor exemption). Since joining the PGA Tour at the start of the 2013-14 season, Cantlay leads all players with a minimum of five rounds at The American Express in Scoring Average (67.17) and birdies per round (6.17).
Xander Schauffele is making his first start since withdrawing from the Sentry Tournament of Champions due to a back injury. Schauffele has not competed in The American Express since his rookie season (MC/2017). He also played on a sponsor exemption in 2016 (MC).
Will Zalatoris finished T6 in his tournament debut at The American Express in 2022, tying his career-low score on Tour with a second-round (61). Zalatoris, who was not able to compete during the fall portion of the schedule due to a back injury, is making his second start of the season (T11/Sentry Tournament of Champions).
American Express ambassador Tony Finau has three wins and six top-10s in his last eight starts (wins: 2022 3M Open, 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic, 2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open). Finau has one Top-10 in five prior starts at the event (4th/2021).
The American Express | Tournament Facts
COURSES: PGA WEST (Pete Dye SC, Nicklaus TC, La Quinta CC)
YARDS/PAR: 7,060 yards/Par 72
ARCHITECT: Lawrence Hughes
PRIZE Money - Purse: $8,000,000/$1,440,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Hudson Swafford
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @theamexgolf
TV COVERAGE: All four rounds (Jan 19 to 22) of The American Express are scheduled for TV coverage from 3:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel.
PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+ will be streaming live coverage from 11:30 to 7:000pm (ET) all weekend, today through Sunday.
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live coverage of The AMEX beginning at 1:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) today. On Saturday and Sunday, coverage will air 2:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) (or completion of event). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
The American Express | The Basics
The Tee Times at The AMEX run from 11:00pm (ET) to 1:42pm (ET).
Weather: Nearly identical day-by-day forecasts for the four-day tournament - Temperatures will start in the high 40s to low 50s but will rise to be 54-to-62 degrees with sunny skies throughout the days. Zero-percent chance of rain. Low humidity and 8 mph winds, max.
Tournament Web Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Info: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 11:00am (ET) Friday
AMEX Field and Tee Times:
The Field: (link)
Saturday
Chad Ramey WD
Sunday
Chris Stroud WD
Kevin Chappell (IN/KFT Sponsor)
Wesley Bryan (IN/Sponsor-Qualifying Tournament)
Aaron Baddeley (Top 10)
Charley Hoffman IN
Monday
Kyle Stanley WD / Dylan Wu IN
Brian Gay WD / Jonathan Byrd IN
Tuesday
Joel Dahmen WD / Hank Lebioda IN
Tee Times: (link)
What They’re Saying
You Want to Beat the Best (Golf Week/USA Today)
How to Watch Today (Golf Week/USA Today)
LIV Secures TV Money from Obscure CW Network (ESPNCom)
Sports Gambling and Daily Fantasy
Expert Picks for the AMEX - (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks for the AMEX - (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History
January 19, 2003 - Ernie Els beat Aaron Baddelay on the second playoff hole at the SONY Open in Hawaii. Els hit an incredible 43-foot birdie putt from the fringe of the 10th green at Waialae Country Club. Els became the first player in 13 years to win the first two PGA TOUR events of the year.
Parting Putt
Next Up
PGA TOUR Brunch is brought to you by Digital Sports Desk. Subscriptions to PGA Tour Brunch are the perfect gift for your friends or family members who love pro golf. This e-newsletter is not affiliated with the PGA Tour organization.
We need your help in spreading the word on PGA Tour Brunch.