After its two-stop swing through Hawaii, the PGA Tour returns to the U.S. mainland this week for The 2024 American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, California.
The long-running tournament, with its rich history and tradition, provides yet another opportunity for tour players to get their early season moving in a positive direction.
The field of 156 players is headlined by Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
The Skinny
Tournament: The American Express
Dates: Jan. 18-21, 2024
PGA Tour Debut: 1960
Known as: The Bob Hope
PGA TOUR Week: 3rd (of 34)
TV Network: NBC
Course(s): PGA West (Stadium), Nicklaus TC, La Quinta CC
Where: La Quinta, California
Distance: 7187 yards, Par 72
Architect: Pete Dye, 1986
Field 156 players
Format: 3 Courses, 54-hole cut, 72-hole stroke
Purse: $8,400,000
Win Share: $1,512,000
FedEx Cup Points: 500
2023 Champion: Jon Rahm
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History
Remember when one of the early-season west coast events was a five-round tournament? It was this one, back when it was called the Bob Hope Classic.
The tournament is best remembered for David Duval’s final-round 59 in 1999 – when 59s were a bit rarer.
In 2012, the tournament moved to a traditional four-round variety, but its compelling past has not been forgotten. The American Express began in 1960 as the Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic. The inaugural tournament was won by Arnold Palmer, who shot 20 under in a three-stroke triumph over Fred Hawkins.
Palmer would go on to win the tournament a record five times.
Other past legendary winners include Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm. Casper, Miller, Mickelson and Rahm are all two-time winners.
Bob Hope was added to the tournament title in 1965 (he became the tournament’s Chairman of the Board) and his famous name stayed as part of the top billing through 2011.
Hope and Palmer, along with the advent of golf TV, made for a perfect marriage. The five-day tournament, known for its celebrity pro-ams, allowed the TV networks to showcase not only Palmer, but the many famous celebrity golfers, including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and President Dwight Eisenhower.
The tournament will be contested at PGA West and played on three courses for the first three rounds: the Pete Dye Stadium Course, the Nickalus Tournament Course, and La Quinta Country Club. For Sunday’s finale, Dye’s Stadium Course will play host.
This will be just the tenth year at the Stadium Course, as it was so difficult in its 1987 debut that players petitioned to have it removed from the tournament rotation.
The Pete Dye masterpiece made its return to the rotation in 2016, and it plays much easier now than it did in ’87, with winners Jason Dufner (2016, -25), Hudson Swafford (2017, -20; 2022, -23), Jon Rahm (2018, -22; 2023, -27), Adam Long (2019, -26), Andrew Landry (2020, -26), and Si Woo Kim (2021, -23) each shooting better than 20-under par en route to their victories. (The 1987 winner, Corey Pavin, was 19 under for FIVE! rounds.)
History: Recent Amex Winners
2023: Jon Rahm (-27)*
2022: Hudson Swafford (-23)*
2021: Si Woo Kim (-23)
2020: Andrew Landry (-26)
2019: Adam Long (-26)
2018: Jon Rahm (-22)*
2017: Hudson Swafford (-20)*
2016: Jason Dufner (-25)
2015: Bill Haas (-22)
2014: Patrick Reed (-28)*
* Banned by PGA Tour. Not in field.
History: Records
Wins: 5 – Arnold Palmer (1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1973)
72-hole Score: 259 (-36) – Joe Durant (2001)
18-hole Score: 59 – David Duval (1999), Adam Hadwin (2017)
The Course: PGA West Stadium
Located in La Quinta, California, PGA West Stadium is the crown jewel of the PGA West resort which includes six championship golf courses.
The PGA West Stadium Course was designed by Pete Dye and is viewed as the sequel to the TPC at Sawgrass. It was inspired by the Scottish links-style courses.
Considered one of the most challenging courses in America, the Stadium Course has hosted many tour-related golf events.
The Stadium features two of the toughest finishing holes in golf: the island green of hole No. 17, known as Alcatraz, as well as the menacing water-lined 18th.
The Skinny
Name: PGA West Stadium
Locale: La Quinta, CA
Established: 1986
Type: Resort
Stats: 18/72/7113 yards
Greens: Bermuda
Fairways: Bermuda
Designer: Pete Dye
Website: PGAWest.com
The American Express Field
The field this week at PGA West will not include its defending champion, and reigning Masters winner, as Jon Rahm signed with LIV Golf in the offseason and was immediately banned by the PGA Tour. The field, though, will include 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler alongside Patrick Cantlay, who shot a course-record 61 in the 2021 edition of “The Hope.”
Scheffler and Cantlay will be joined by a handful of U.S. Ryder cup teammates in Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark and Sam Burns.
Other marquee players include Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee and Shane Lowry.
The American Express also includes former winners in Andrew Landry (2020), Adam Long (2019), Jason Dufner (2016), Charley Hoffman (2007), Bill Haas (2015) and Si Woo Kim (2021).
Zach Johnson, Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Will Zalatoris are some of the other familiar names.
Top-5 Betting Favorites
Book Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Scottie Scheffler (6-1)
2. Patrick Cantlay (9-1)
2. Xander Schauffele (9-1)
4. Sungjae Im (20-1)
5. Justin Thomas (25-1)
5. Tom Kim (25-1)
5. Min Woo Lee (25-1)
Full Field & Odds
PGA West Stadium | La Quinta, CA | Jan 19-22, 2023
Joel Cook contributed to this report.
Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images
