
The 2025 American Express has seen some thrilling action after the completion of two rounds at PGA West in La Quinta, California.
Here’s a recap of the leaderboard and notable performances:
- Leaderboard After Two Rounds: Charley Hoffman (63) and Rico Hoey (63) share the lead on 16 under. Their performances have set the tone for what could be a competitive weekend.
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- Hoffman posted a 9-under 63 – his lowest round on the PGA Tour since the 2023 RSM Classic (62/R3/finished T13), while the 128 total marks a career-best opening 36-hole score on Tour (previous: 130).
- Hoffman Quote: “Yeah, solid. I was hitting fairways and then I was able to attack into the greens, hitting some wedge shots close and obviously making a few putts. It’s one of those golf courses if you keep the ball in front of you, you can attack some of those pins. If you don’t, you’re not able to. I was able to make a few putts hit some wedges close and it all added up to a 63.”
- Hoey’s 9-under 63 matches his career low round on Tour, which occurred in the opening round of The 2024 American Express. It is the first career 36-hole lead/co-lead on Tour for the Manila, Philipine native.
- Hoey Quote: “I was just, kind of just keeping it in front of me. I had a great group. I play a lot of practice rounds with J.J. Spaun, so he’s been playing well, and I’m just trying to hop on his train and keep playing well like he is so, yeah.”
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- Chasing Pack: A trio including Justin Lower (66), Mark Hubbard (64) and Sepp Straka (64) are tied for third on 15 under.
- Lower’s round was highlighted by eight birdies, including four in a five-hole stretch (Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 14).
- Hubbard, playing the more challenging Dye Stadium course, produced a bogey-free round, highlighted by a flurry of five birdies in a seven-hole stretch (Nos. 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13) to move into the hunt.
- Straka, meanwhile posted a second-straight bogey-free round (one of three in the field), headlined by two hat tricks, first on Nos. 7, 8 and 9, and again on 16, 17 and 18.
- Weather: The weather conditions in Palm Springs have been favorable, with no significant disruptions, allowing for consistent play across all courses.
- Course Insights:
- The tournament, known for its low scoring due to the use of three different courses over the first three rounds, has lived up to expectations. The players are navigating the Pete Dye Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course, and La Quinta Country Club, with each course presenting its unique challenges and scoring opportunities.
- The La Quinta Country Club and Nicklaus Tournament Course have shown to be slightly more forgiving, with average scores in the low 68s, whereas the Stadium Course has been the toughest of the three. However, the final round, played solely on the Stadium Course, could see a shift in strategy with new hole placements.
The American Express
Top-5 Leaders: Round 2
1. Charley Hoffman -16 (-9)
1. Rico Hoey -16 (-9)
3. Justin Lower -15 (-6)
3. Mark Hubbard -15 (-8)
3. Sepp Straka -15 (-8)
PGA Tour Media’s notes and data contributed to this recap.
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