After a fortnight in Hawaii, the PGA Tour travels to California for the opening event of the West Coast Swing, The American Express, where world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and fellow top-six members Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are the main contenders.
Initially known as the Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic, the American Express took place for the first time in 1960. It has since been known by various names and has been staged at numerous venues.
As has been the case since 2016, the current edition of the tournament will take place across three courses - the Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament courses at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club - with the field rotating across the trio of venues over the first three days.
After the third round, a 54-hole cut is made and the final round takes place at the Stadium Course.
- Justin Thomas to win the American Express
- Min Woo Lee to win the American Express
- Taylor Montgomery to win the American Express
- Andrew Putman to win the American Express
Thomas set To Upstage Scheffler
At his very best, Justin Thomas knows he can compete and win in elite company and the two-time US PGA champion can confirm his return to form by claiming a first PGA Tour title since the 2022 Players Championship.
Thomas endured a torrid 2023 PGA Tour campaign, but he signed off by finishing fifth at the Fortinet Championship, fourth at the DP World Tour's Nedbank Challenge and third at the Hero World Challenge and there is scope for further progress from the 30-year-old this week.
The long-game precision has returned, the putting stroke is looking much more assured and Thomas has shown he has what it takes to compete in this event, having finished seventh on his most recent appearance in 2015, albeit when two different PGA West courses were a part of the rotation.
Lee Poised For Immediate Impact
Min Woo Lee is a hugely exciting talent and the 25-year-old Australian, now in possession of a full-time PGA Tour card, has already shown he has what it takes to contend for Stateside titles.
Perth native Lee finished sixth in the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass last season, a course which, like PGA West's Stadium Course, was designed by legendary architect Pete Dye, before he finished a productive 2023 campaign with worldwide form figures of 1-6-15-1-3.
Lee an exciting talent
Putting Puts Montgomery In The Frame
Lee is a magnificent short-game exponent and the same is true of Taylor Montgomery, who has every chance of reaching the sort of ultra-low total which will almost certainly be required to claim victory at the Stadium Course on Sunday.
Montgomery is a crack putter - second-best on the PGA Tour last season according to strokes-gained data. He finished fifth on his event debut last term and returned with a solid 13th-place effort in last week's Sony Open.
Putnam Set For Another Profitable Week
The time also looks right to support Andrew Putnam, a consistent operator who has been knocking on the door in finishing in the top ten in three of his last six tournaments.
Putnam attended college in California and his sole PGA Tour triumph came in the state at the 2018 Barracuda Championship.
Solid six-year event form figures of 17-34-10-21-14-16 underline his suitability for this test and it's arguable that he's playing better than ever.
