The 2025 American Express Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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2025 Amex Primer Nick Dunlap
Amateur Nick Dunlap lines up a putt for the win during round 4 of The American Express at PGA West, Dye Stadium Course on Jan 21, 2024 in La Quinta, Calif. (Photo by Ken Murray for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After its two-stop swing through Hawaii, the PGA Tour returns to the U.S. mainland this week for The 2025 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 Wyndham Clark, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau and defending champion Nick Dunlap.


The Skinny

Phil Mickelson hits a shot during the 2016 Careerbuilder Challenge at PGA West in La Quinta, CA. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Tournament: The American Express
Dates: Jan. 16-19, 2025
PGA Tour Debut: 1960
Known as: The Bob Hope
PGA TOUR Week: 3rd (of 34)
TV Network: NBC
Course: Pete Dye Stadium
Where: La Quinta, Calif.
Distance: 7210 yards, Par 72
Architect: Pete Dye, 1986
Other Courses: Jack Nicklaus, La Quinta CC
Field 156 players
Format: 3 Courses, 54-hole cut, 72-hole stroke
Purse: $8,800,000
Win Share: $1,548,000
FedEx Cup Points: 500
2024 Champion: Nick Dunlap


How to Follow The American Express

2025 Amex Primer Sam Burns
Sam Burns walks the 3rd fairway during the final round of The American Express at Pete Dye Stadium Course on Jan 21, 2024 in La Quinta, Calif. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez via Getty Images)

TELEVISION: Thu-Sun: 7-10 p.m. ET (GOLF Channel)

PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 2:30-10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Subscribe to ESPN+

RADIO: Thu-Fri: 4-10 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 5-10 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM)
PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio

LINKS: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Instagram


History

Bernhard Langer with Bob Hope during the Bob Hope British Classic at Moor Park Golf Club on September 26, 1981 in Rickmansworth, England. Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

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.

Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm celebrates after winning the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge in a playoff over Andrew Landry at PGA West. Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images

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 11th 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

2024: Nick Dunlap (-29)
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

The American Express 17th Hole
Max Homa lines up a putt on the 17th hole during the final round of The American Express on the Stadium course at PGA West on Jan 24, 2021 in La Quinta, Calif. (Photo by Harry How via Getty Images)

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: 18/72/7210 yards
Greens: Bermuda
Fairways: Bermuda
Designer: Pete Dye
Website: PGAWest.com


The American Express Field

2025 Amex Primer Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler on the 16th tee during the 2nd round of The American Express at Nicklaus Tournament Course on Jan 19, 2024 in La Quinta, Calif. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez via Getty Images)

The field this week at PGA West will include just one world top-10 ranked player in Wyndham Clark (No. 7), who enters off a T15 at the season opener in Kapalua.

Clark will be joined by a handful of 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup teammates in Justin Thomas, Brian Harman, Sam Burns, and Patrick Cantlay, who shot a course-record 61 in the 2021 edition of “The Hope.”

Other marquee players include Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, Tom Kim, Jason Day, Cam Young and Billy Horschel/strong>.

The American Express also includes former winners in Charley Hoffman (2007), Jon Vegas (2011), Bill Haas (2015), Jason Dufner (2016) and Si Woo Kim (2021).

Top-5 Betting Favorites

Book Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Justin Thomas (12-1)
1. Sungjae Im (12-1)
3. Sam Burns (14-1)
4. Patrick Cantlay (16-1)
5. Tom Kim (25-1)
5. Tony Finau (25-1)

Full Field & Odds

PGA West Stadium | La Quinta, CA | Jan 16-19, 2025


Joel Cook contributed to this report.


Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images


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