The 2025 PGA Tour season continues this week with American Express, the first event of the year in the continental United States. This prestigious tournament begins Thursday in California’s Coachella Valley with a unique three-course rotation format.
The American Express will be played at the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club, and the Nicklaus Tournament Course at the PGA West complex in La Quinta, California. Each golfer will play one round on each of the three courses before a cut is made, with the top 65 and ties advancing to Sunday’s final round on the Pete Dye Stadium Course.
This event traditionally produces a low score as the courses are relatively short and player-friendly. The winning score often reaches the 30-under-par range, which places a premium on making birdies in bunches. Accurate iron play and a hot putter are key ingredients for success at American Express.
The American Express 2025 – Notable Payers
The American Express Field 2025 features an impressive lineup of top talent, headlined by world #2 Justin Thomas and #4 Patrick Cantlay. Sungjae Im, currently #12 in the world rankings, will be a player to watch after his strong start to the year with a third-place finish at the Sentry.
All eyes will be on defending champion Nick Dunlap as he aims to replicate his impressive win last year when he won the event as an amateur. Dunlap’s fairytale triumph instantly made him a fan favorite, and his return to the Coachella Valley will be one of the standout storylines.
Other notable names in the field include Tony Finau, fresh off his Mexican Open win, and rising stars like Tom Kim, Sahith Theegala, and Taylor Montgomery. With 18 of the world’s top 50 players playing, American Express promises to deliver an exciting weekend of golf.
Scottie Scheffler does not participate (again)
Xander Schauffele, the world No. 2 and a pre-tournament betting favorite at 8.00 odds, withdrew from American Express on Monday without giving a reason. This late withdrawal by the top-ranked player in the field has major implications for the event.
With Schauffele out, Justin Thomas (13.00 odds) and Sungjae Im (15.00) now top the betting board as the new favorites. However, their odds have dropped considerably from the front lines when they lost to Schauffele. This creates tremendous value in the lower players on the board who did not have their odds adjusted so drastically.
The American Express 2025 Betting Odds and Info
| When? | 13-19 January 2025 |
| Where? | PGA West grounds of La Quinta, California. |
| Where to Watch? | Golf Channel and ESPN+ |
| Justin Thomas 13.00 |
| Sungjae Im 15.00 |
| Patrick Cantlay 21.00 |
| Sam Burns 21.00 |
| Tony Finau 26.00 |
| Tom Kim 34.00 |
| Wyndham Clark 36.00 |
| Si Woo Kim 36.00 |
The American Express 2025 Betting Picks
With the withdrawal of Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Sungjae Im now lead the betting odds for American Express 2025. The South Korean Im had a hot start to the year with a third-place finish in Hawaii, but historically have struggled in this event. Thomas is coming off a solid performance at the Sentry, where he finished tied for fourth.
Other notable names near the top of the odds board include Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, and defending champion Nick Dunlap. Cantlay has been a model of consistency of late, while Finau is looking for his first win since the 2022 Houston Open. As an amateur last year, Dunlap pulled off a shocking win and will be looking to prove it was no fluke.
One player who presents excellent value is J. J. Spaun. Spaun was on fire last week in Honolulu, earning a share of 3rd place. With his stellar approach play and scoring average, he could be poised for a big win in the California desert.
Podium Picks:
1. Sungjae Im
2. Justin Thomas
3. Tony Finau
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