2023 American Express Tournament Preview
The American Express has an impressive field in 2023, headlined by John Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay & Will Zalatoris. The PGA Tour kicks off the west coast swing in Southern California at The American Express Tournament. This unique tournament is a traditional match play, but in the first three rounds, each group has an amateur joining them. The final round breaks off, it is only PGA Tour players who finish the tournament.
The Courses and Tournament Layout
The American Express is played on three different courses anchored by the Pete Dye Stadium course at PGA West, The Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West & La Quinta Country Club. Each Course will play at par 72 with yardages, ranging from 7,000 to 7,200 yards. Each PGA Tour player will play all three courses and then there will be a cut after the third round. Sunday will then be played at The Stadium Course for the final round.
La Quinta Country Club – Playing as the easiest of the three courses, it still demands the attention of the players. La Quinta’s scouring average last year was 69.91. The course features TifDward Bermuda greens on only the back 9 which is odd but will present a challenge for the players. According to the PGA website the Primary rough was raised to 1.75 inches this year for the tournament.
Nicklaus Tournament Course – I am not a fan of Nicklaus-designed courses and this course usually plays as one of the easiest all year on the PGA Tour. If you look at last year, the scouring average went up to 70.25 from 2021. The Nicklaus Tournament course saw a renovation in 2020. This renovation replaced over 50,000 square feet of putting surface with TifEagle Bermuda greens while also increasing the greens by 7,000 square feet. The Nicklaus Tournament Course also features the longest rough of the three playing at 2 inches.
The Stadium Course at PGA West – The Stadium Course west was rated one of the top courses in the country and one of the toughest to play. The course will play around 7,300 yards for the tour pros. Similar to TPC Sawgrass (The Players) the course features an island green, who doesn’t love an island green? Last year the course scoring average was 70.70. The Stadium Course will play host to the final round on Sunday after the cut.
The American Express Tournament Picks
Our Winner – Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay has a good history at The American Express Tournament finishing 2nd in 2021 and 9th in 2022. Cantlay is also coming off a T16th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The courses and the format seem to suit Patrick’s playing style and we have Patrick taking home the victory in this year’s American Express Tournament.
Top 5 Pick- Brian Harman
In the past two years at The American Express Tournament, Brian has finished T3 (2022), T8 (2021), and T21 (2020). Adding up his previous history at the AMEX with his phenomenal fall swing, where he finished 2nd at the World Wide Technology Championships at Mayakoba and T2 at the RSM Classic. That is why we feel Brian will finish inside the Top 5, more to come on that!
Top 10 Pick – Tom Hoge
Tom Hoge has a good track record at The American Express Tournament. Hoge finished 2nd in 2022, cut in 2021, and finished T6 in 2020. Hoge is also coming off of a good fall swing. He finished in the top 10 six times in 9 events and won the QBE Shootout.
Top 20 Pick – John Rahm
If the current #4 in the world John Rahm, is playing, you should probably pick him. We do not have John higher because he does not play here often. He played once where he finished T14 in 2022 at The American Express. John Rahm coming off a win two weeks ago will look to keep this hot 2023 going.
Top 40 Pick – Cam Davis
Cam finished 3rd in 2021 at The American Express Tournament and, T29 in 2020. Cam is also fresh off a T-32 at the Sony Open. We feel good about Cam clinching a spot inside that top 40.
Underdog Winner Pick- Brian Harman
Your eyes are not deceiving you, Harman is on here twice. Brian has such a good history at The American Express Tournament. Brian also always flies under the radar, which is why he is our underdog winner pick. May the odds be in your favor.
Other Notable Players to Watch – Joel Dahmen, Rickie Fowler, Harry Higgs, Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Young, and Will Zalatoris