The PGA Tour arrives on the mainland this week, just outside Palm Springs, California, for the 2025 American Express. Hosting the biggest field of the year, PGA West will see players compete on three courses different golf courses – La Quinta Country Club, Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course – before a cut is made at the 54-hole mark.
If the field is made up of 156 players, some notable names are absent. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler planned to return from his injury on Christmas Day this week, but instead expressed caution and will not play until the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He’s not the only high-profile player missing from the start sheet; World number 2 Xander Schauffele also withdrew on Monday without citing a reason.
In their place are several of their Presidents Cup teammates from last fall, including Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns, who have both found their share of success in these regions. Sungjae Im, Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim lead a strong international contingent.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap also returns to the site of his historic victory. Becoming the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour, the Alabama alumnus got the better of Burns and fellow Crimson Tide Justin Thomas. The 2022 PGA Championship winner is still looking to capture his first trophy since Southern Hills more than two years ago.
Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Cameron Young, Max Greyserman and Will Zalatoris round out the notables in the field for the PGA Tour’s premier West Coast Swing event.
American Express Calendar 2025
Dates: January 16-19
Location: Pete Dye Stadium Course — La Quinta, California
By: 72 | Footage: 7,210
Sotck exchange: $8,800,000
2025 American Express Champ, Odds
- Sungiae Im (12-1): If ever there was a time to find the winner’s circle, this week is as good as any. The 26-year-old got his 2025 off to a flying start with a podium finish at the Sentry and comes to the American Express with his game in good shape and with good vibes around the place. In six previous trips, Im has done no worse than T25 with his other five finishes all coming in the top 20. Capable of going deeper in this type of setting, he is aiming for his first PGA Tour victory since the Shriners Children’s Open 2021.
- Justin Thomas (12-1): Thomas’ year was put on hold at the Sentry as the two-time major champion struggled off the tee and couldn’t avoid the big number. Fortunately for him, there aren’t many problems around the three golf courses, as he discovered last season when finishing T3. Last year’s appearance marked Thomas’ first appearance since 2015, and he decided to play again given his statistical suitability for the venue.
- Sam Burns (14-1)
- Patrick Cantlay (14-1)
- Tony Debate (22-1)
- Kurt Kitayama (30-1)
- Wyndham Clark (30-1): Clark is one of the few stars to make Palm Springs a regular stop on his playing schedule; this year marks his seventh consecutive start in this tournament. He is off to a good start to the 2025 campaign as he sniffed out discord at the Sentry before returning to a T15 finish. Clark is way off the tee and can fill it up on the greens, but his iron play will need to be better this week if he wants to compete.
- Tom Kim (30-1): Kim entered the weekend at the Sony Open just late and fell into irrelevance with a 4-over 74 on move day. Finally finishing outside the top 60, the South Korean struggled on the greens of Waialae Country Club. That was the case for Kim at PGA West last year and he missed the cut twice in three previous appearances. A three-time winner on the PGA Tour, Kim has shown a knack for going low when necessary, but the condition of his putter could be holding him back.
- Si Woo Kim (35-1)
- Cameron Young (35-1): Known for his length off the tee and impeccable iron play, Young instead made noise at Sentry with his short game. Ranked first around the green and second with putter in hand, the former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year notched a top 10 finish. If he can maintain that type of skill in the short game department, Young could be vying for a long-awaited first victory as soon as possible. The mild nature of this event, however, does not suit him.
- Max Greyserman (35-1)
American Express Experts’ Choice 2025
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