The PGA Tour returns to the mainland United States this week with the American Express, one of the Tour’s longest standing events, and the 2026 edition shapes as one of the strongest fields the tournament has ever seen. Scottie Scheffler makes his long awaited season debut in the Coachella Valley, headlining a star studded lineup that includes major champions, world top 20 players and rising stars all chasing early FedExCup momentum. With three courses in play and historically low scoring, this week is about capitalising early and staying aggressive.
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PGA Tour The American Express Betting Tips
La Quinta Golf Coutse, Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th January
Top Picks
Scottie Scheffler ($3.60/Top 20 $2.20)
Scheffler finally gets his 2026 season underway after missing the start of 2025 due to an infamous Christmas mishap, and there is no easing in here. The world number one arrives as the reigning Player of the Year and leads a stacked field that includes eight of the top 13 players in the world. His elite tee to green dominance is perfectly suited to a tournament that rewards birdie chances in bunches, and while this is his first competitive start of the year, his baseline level is so high that anything less than contention would be a surprise.
Robert MacIntyre ($26/Top 30 $1.86)
MacIntyre arrives full of confidence after firing a closing 63 at the Sony Open to finish tied third, the low round of the final day. He’s trending nicely, ranks inside the world top 10 in this field, and his ability to go low when conditions allow makes him a strong value option. If he carries that Hawaii momentum into the desert, he could be right in the mix come Sunday.
Value Picks
Will Zalatoris ($71/Top 30 $2.15)
This week marks Zalatoris’ first PGA Tour start since the PGA Championship in May, following another frustrating injury layoff. He did show positive signs late in 2025 with a top 15 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and historically, these desert courses suit his high ball flight and aggressive iron play. If his body holds up, he has the firepower to contend immediately, especially on layouts where his putting is less exposed.
Sepp Straka ($36/Top 20 $2.45)
Defending champions rarely come in under the radar, but Straka somehow manages to do just that again. He returns to the American Express after a clinical victory last year, where he went bogey free for 69 holes and held off a late Justin Thomas charge with composed golf under pressure. Sitting 12th in the world, Straka’s combination of power, efficiency and improved putting makes him extremely dangerous in a shootout style setup. No one has defended this title since the mid 1970s, but Straka’s game travels well across all three courses.
The Field
The American Express field is loaded, with Scottie Scheffler joined by Russell Henley, Ben Griffin, Justin Rose, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick and Adam Scott, all making this one of the deepest early season events in recent memory. Several major champions are teeing it up, while Presidents Cup storylines are also in play with both past participants and hopefuls looking to impress early in the year.
There is also plenty at stake beyond the trophy. This is the second event contributing to the Aon Swing 5, which determines entry into the AT and T Pebble Beach Pro Am. Patrick Rodgers currently leads that race after his solo third at the Sony Open, with several others chasing crucial points over the next few weeks.
Add in intriguing sponsor exemptions and veterans like Zach Johnson and Camilo Villegas returning with solid course history, and the depth becomes clear. With 500 FedExCup points on offer, motivation will not be an issue for anyone in the field.
The Course
The American Express is contested across three venues, with players rotating through the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus Tournament Course from Thursday to Saturday. All three play as par 72 layouts just over 7,000 yards, and all are designed to encourage aggressive play under player friendly desert conditions.
A 54 hole cut trims the field to the top 65 and ties before Sunday’s final round at the Pete Dye Stadium Course, the most demanding of the three. Despite that, scoring is still historically low, with an average winning total of 26 under par across the past seven editions.
Birdies are everywhere if players are dialled in. Records have fallen regularly, including Nick Dunlap’s 72 hole mark of 259 and multiple sub 60 rounds over the years. This week is about momentum, converting par fives, and staying aggressive without getting careless. Expect another deep winning score if conditions remain calm.
