The PGA Tour golf tournament calendar rolls straight from Hawaii to the California desert this week with The American Express, one of the most unique and fan-friendly stops of the entire season. As the second PGA Tour golf tournament of 2026, The American Express brings together a loaded field, a pro-am atmosphere, and three scoreable courses that routinely turn the week into a birdie-making contest.
For golf fans, bettors, and anyone looking to measure early-season form, this event matters. At Tee Time Tavern, it’s the kind of week where PGA Tour coverage stays on all day — and simulator bays stay busy all night.
The American Express: Event Overview
- Dates: January 22–25, 2026
- Location: La Quinta, California (Coachella Valley)
- Format: Pro-am, 156 professionals
- Purse: $9,200,000
- Winner’s Share: $1,656,000
- FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Formerly known as the Desert Classic and the Bob Hope Classic, this tournament dates back to 1960 and has been sponsored by American Express since 2020. It’s long been known as a low-scoring PGA Tour golf tournament, rewarding aggressive play, elite putting, and strong wedge games rather than pure power.
Three-Course Rotation: How the Tournament Is Played
Unlike most PGA Tour golf tournaments, The American Express uses a three-course rotation for the first three rounds. Players rotate Thursday through Saturday before a 54-hole cut to the top 65 and ties, with Sunday’s final round played exclusively on the toughest test in the rotation.
Pete Dye Stadium Course – PGA West
- Designer: Pete Dye
- Yards / Par: 7,210 yards, Par 72
- Role: Final-round host, toughest scoring average (~71.5)
This is where tournaments are won and lost. Water comes into play on nine holes, bunkering is penal, and the iconic par-3 17th island green (“Alcatraz”) adds late-round drama.
Nicklaus Tournament Course – PGA West
- Designer: Jack Nicklaus
- Yards / Par: 7,147 yards, Par 72
More forgiving off the tee and friendly to strong ball-strikers, this course offers reachable par-5s and consistent birdie chances.
La Quinta Country Club
- Yards / Par: 7,060 yards, Par 72
- Scoring Average: ~69.5 (easiest in rotation)
Tree-lined, traditional, and short by modern standards, La Quinta is where players are expected to go low.
Greens across all three venues are TifEagle Bermudagrass overseeded with Poa annua and ryegrass, typically running fast and true around 12 on the Stimpmeter.
A Loaded Field Headlined by Scottie Scheffler
The 2026 edition features one of the strongest fields in event history, led by Scottie Scheffler, who makes his season debut as World No. 1. His elite ball-striking profile fits these courses perfectly, especially the Stadium Course on Sunday.
Other notable players include:
- Jon Rahm (two-time champion here)
- Wyndham Clark
- Brian Harman
- Patrick Cantlay
- Sam Burns
- Ludvig Åberg
- Tony Finau
- Sepp Straka (defending champion)
With so many elite names, this PGA Tour golf tournament feels closer to a signature-level event than a typical early-season stop.
Recent Winners and What They Tell Us
Winning scores here are routinely deep into the red:
| Year | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sepp Straka | -25 |
| 2024 | Nick Dunlap (amateur) | -29 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | -27 |
| 2022 | Hudson Swafford | -23 |
| 2021 | Si Woo Kim | -23 |
The trend is clear: this is a birdie-maker’s tournament. Past winners gained heavily in strokes gained: putting and approach, especially on the easier setups early in the week.
Expect the winning number again to land somewhere between -23 and -25, assuming calm desert conditions.
Betting Outlook: Favorites vs Value
Opening odds show Scottie Scheffler as a clear favorite (+240 to +250), but history suggests caution. This tournament has produced multiple longshot winners, including Nick Dunlap at +35000 in 2024 and Sepp Straka at +6600 in 2025.
Other names bettors are circling:
- Patrick Cantlay (elite course history)
- Si Woo Kim (past winner)
- Ben Griffin (current top-10 OWGR)
- Sam Burns (hot putter profile)
For gamblers watching at Tee Time Tavern, this is a classic spread exposure, don’t over-commit to chalk kind of week.
Why This Tournament Is Perfect for Tee Time Tavern
From a fan and simulator perspective, The American Express checks every box:
- Multiple courses = varied strategy discussions
- Low scoring = constant leaderboard movement
- Star-studded field = nonstop storylines
It’s also a perfect chance to play the same courses on golf simulators, test aggressive lines, and see firsthand why wedge play and putting separate contenders from pretenders.
Add in the pro-am vibe, concerts after play, and desert visuals, and this PGA Tour golf tournament is built for social viewing.
Final Thought
The American Express may not carry major-championship prestige, but it delivers something just as valuable: pure entertainment. With elite players, historic scoring, and a format that rewards aggression, it’s one of the most watchable PGA Tour golf tournaments of the year — and an ideal event to kick back, talk strategy, and enjoy golf the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.
As always, thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed this blog!
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