Joe Champion
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After a fortnight in Hawaii, the PGA Tour heads to California for the American Express where Scottie Scheffler heads the betting in an event that was won 12 months ago by Jon Rahm.
The defending champion is absent but a strong field has gathered for this three-course pro-am which sees the first 3 rounds rotate around PGA West’s Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses as well as nearby La Quinta Country Club.
The American Express golf picks and predictions
Justin Thomas (+2500)
Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing.
After a 54-hole cut, the final round takes place at Pete Dye’s Stadium Course, where Justin Thomas can prove he’s back to his best by winning for the first time since the 2022 PGA Championship.
After an abysmal 2023 season in which he failed to make the FedEx Cup playoffs, Thomas regrouped to finish 5th in the Fortinet Championship, 4th in the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Challenge and 3rd in the Hero World Challenge.
The Kentucky man will have bigger targets on the horizon but he’s shown himself to be adept at handling Dye courses by winning the 2021 Players Championship at Sawgrass, and he was 7th in his last event start in 2015 when still a PGA Tour maiden.
Min-Woo Lee (+2800)
Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing.
Min-Woo Lee showcased his potential when 6th at last year’s Players Championship and the Australian signed off his 2023 campaign with results of 1-6-15-1-3, with the 6th-place finish coming in PGA Tour company at the Zozo Championship. He was also 9th at Dye’s TPC River Highlands in the Travelers in June and his magnificent short-game is a huge asset for the American Express.
Andrew Putnam (+7500)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
At bigger odds, Andrew Putnam could build on last week’s 10th in the Sony Open. He has solid form figures of 17-34-10-21-14-36 in this event since 2018 and is playing better than ever. He went to college in California at Pepperdine and his one win came in the state in 2018.
Taylor Montgomery (+5000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM at time of publishing.
Taylor Montgomery finished 5th on debut in this event last term and he’s finding top gear again, finishing 8th at the RSM Classic in November and 13th at the Sony last week. He was the 2nd-best putter statistically on the PGA Tour last season and can put that to good use in the AmEx birdie-fest.
