American Express Preview

This week, the spotlight shifts to LA Quinta, California, for the 67th edition of the American Express event, commencing on January 22nd. The tournament will be contested across three courses: Pete Dye Stadium Course, LA Quinta Country Club, and Nicklaus Tournament Course, each hosting four rounds of what promises to be an electrifying four days of golf. Scottie Scheffler is the top contender for the title, seeking to replicate his form demonstrated last season. Let’s preview the tournament.

Scottie Scheffler

The golf community is eagerly awaiting what Scottie Scheffler will deliver this year. The 29-year-old American golfer was an unyielding force, showcasing a level of dominance that left his competitors in awe. He will initiate the season in front of his home crowd, seeking to sustain his remarkable form. As the world’s top-ranked golfer, Scheffler will not merely be aiming for a strong start to the year, but rather, he is determined to reverse his fortunes in the event. In his past appearances at the tournament, he has not achieved the desired outcomes. Nonetheless, his current form indicates that this disappointing record is on the verge of being rectified. Throughout his last eight events, Scheffler has accumulated three titles and secured a total of six top-five finishes. He is, without a doubt, the golfer to beat at present, and it will necessitate a monumental effort to outdo him.

Benjamin Griffin

Benjamin Griffin has demonstrated remarkable skill and consistency on the PGA Tour circuit throughout the 2025 season. His consistent ranking among the world’s top 10 players for the entire year is a testament to his exceptional talent. Griffin has achieved significant success, securing multiple titles, and his current form suggests a strong likelihood of victory on Sunday, 25 January. In his last six events, the 29-year-old American golfer has secured one title, the WWT Championship to conclude the year on a high note. However, he began the year with a disappointing performance, finishing tied for 19th in the Sony Open. Scheffler will be looking to recover from this disappointment.

Ludvig Aberg

Ludvig Aberg was one of the players who showed promising starts in PGA events last year, but ultimately fell short in his attempts to maintain the lead and claim titles on several occasions. However, he can take pride in his achievements, having secured another title at the Genesis Invitational. The 26-year-old Swedish player demonstrated consistency throughout the season, with more than 7 top 20 finishes. Additionally, he ended the year on a strong note, coming close to winning the DP World Tour Championship title with a tied third-place finish on the leaderboard. He will aim to prove to fans that he is one of the world’s top players.

Prize Money

The second event of the PGA Tour’s 2026 season boasts a $9.2 million prize purse, with the winner taking home a grand total of $1,656,000.

Past winners

2025 – Sepp Straka

2024 – Nick Dunlap

2023 – Jon Rahm

2022 – Hudson Swafford

2021 – Si Woo Kim