After a stop in Hawaii, the PGA Tour returns to the U.S. mainland this week for The 2026 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, Ludvig Aberg, Patrick Cantlay, and defending champion Sepp Straka.
The Skinny
Tournament: The American Express
Dates: Jan. 22-25, 2026
PGA Tour Debut: 1960
Known as: The Bob Hope
PGA TOUR Week: 2nd (of 33)
TV Network: GOLF Channel
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: $9,200,000
Win Share: $1,656,000
FedEx Cup Points: 500
2025 Champion: Sepp Straka
How to Follow The American Express
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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.
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.
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.
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 12th 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), Hudson Swafford (2022, -23), Rahm (2023, -27), Nick Dunlap (2024, -29), and Sepp Straka (2025, -25) — 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
2025: Sepp Straka (-25)
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
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
The field this week at PGA West will include five top-10 ranked players, headlined by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who enters off a six-win season in 2025, highlighted by two more major titles.
Scheffler will be joined by a handful of 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup teammates in Russell Henley, Ben Griffin, Sam Burns, and Patrick Cantlay, who shot a 61 in the 2021 edition of “The Hope.”
Other marquee players include Wyndham Clark, Robert MacIntyre, Alex Noren, Ludvig Aberg, Jason Day, Matt Fitzpatrick and Billy Horschel/strong>.
The American Express also includes former winners in Sepp Straka (2025), Nick Dunlap (2024), Si Woo Kim (2021), Andrew Landry (2020), Adam Long (2019), Jason Dufner (2016), Jon Vegas (2011), and Charley Hoffman (2007).
Top-5 Betting Favorites
Book Rank-Player (Odds)
1. Scottie Scheffler (2-1)
2. Ben Griffin (20-1)
3. Ludvig Aberg (22-1)
3. Russell Henley (22-1)
5. Sam Burns (25-1)
Joel Cook contributed to this report.
Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images
