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Written by Kevin Prise@PGATOURKevin
The PGA TOUR heads to California’s Coachella Valley for The American Express, the third event of the 2025 season and the first in the continental United States. The long-running TOUR stop features a three-course rotation, with a cut after Saturday’s third round. The top 65 and ties will play the Pete Dye Stadium Course in Sunday’s final round.
Nick Dunlap will defend his title after winning in 2024 as an amateur, the first to do so since 1991. Major champions Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas are also among notables set to compete in the TOUR’s first California stop of 2025.
The American Express also allows players to improve their position in the Aon Swing 5 to qualify for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational, the next two Signature Events of the 2025 season.

There’s plenty of star power in the field in the Coachella Valley, along with several up-and-comers looking to make a quick splash on TOUR.
Here’s a look at what you need to know for The American Express.
FIELD NOTES: Nick Dunlap will defend his title after becoming the first amateur to win on TOUR since 1991. Dunlap, a college sophomore at the time, carded 29-under 259 for a one-stroke win over Christiaan Bezuidenhout. He turned pro less than a week after his victory and finished No. 49 on the 2024 FedExCup, adding a second title at the Barracuda Championship. Bezuidenhout will compete this week as well … World No. 2 Xander Schauffele will make his fifth appearance at The American Express, looking for his first title after back-to-back T3 finishes in 2023 and 2024 … World No. 11 Patrick Cantlay is also seeking his first title in La Quinta; his best finish in six starts is a runner-up in 2021 … World No. 7 Wyndham Clark will make his seventh start at the event, still seeking his first top-10 finish … Other world top-20 players in the field include Billy Horschel, Sungjae Im and Sam Burns … After a tie for third at The American Express a year ago, which featured a third-round 61, Justin Thomas returns to the field … Nick Taylor looks to carry his momentum from a playoff victory at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii, where he defeated Nico Echavarria with a birdie on the second extra hole for his fifth TOUR title. Echavarria will compete this week as well … PGA TOUR rookies Will Chandler and Matthew Riedel will make their debut as members after earning status via Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry last month … Past winners of The American Express set to compete include Jason Dufner, Charley Hoffman and Si Woo Kim.
HIGHEST-RANKED PLAYERS IN THE FIELD
SPONSOR EXEMPTIONS: Blades Brown, 17, will make his first TOUR start since turning pro last month. Brown made his TOUR debut at last year’s Myrtle Beach Classic, finishing T26 … Popular YouTube content creator Wesley Bryan, who finished No. 128 on last year’s FedExCup Fall standings, will make his fifth appearance at The American Express … Chesson Hadley, winner of the 2014 Puerto Rico Open, finished No. 150 on last year’s FedExCup Fall standings … Kevin Streelman, 46, will make his 464th career PGA TOUR start; he also Monday qualified for last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii … Two-time major champion Zach Johnson will compete at a solid showing at the Sony Open, where he finished T21 … Three-time PGA TOUR winner Chez Reavie, 43, will make his 16th start at The American Express.
SIGNATURE EVENT STORYLINES: The American Express marks the second event of the Aon Swing 5 for 2025 … The top five FedExCup points earners across the Sony Open, The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open (not otherwise exempt) will qualify for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am via the Aon Swing 5. … The top five FedExCup points earners across the Sony Open, The American Express, Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open (not otherwise exempt) will qualify for The Genesis Invitational via the Aon Swing 5. J.J. Spaun leads the Aon Swing 5 after a tie for third at the Sony Open, followed by Patrick Fishburn, Adam Schenk and Jackson Suber, each who finished T6 at the Sony Open. (The Aon Next 10 for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational was determined via the 2024 FedExCup Fall standings.)
COMCAST BUSINESS TOUR TOP 10 UPDATES: With his victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Nick Taylormoved to No. 2 on the Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10, behind only The Sentry winner Hideki Matsuyama. Colombia’s Nico Echavarria vaulted to No. 5 with a runner-up at the Sony Open, behind Collin Morikawa (No. 3) and Sungjae Im (No. 4). The top 10 players on the FedExCup Regular Season standings, finalized after the Wyndham Championship, will earn bonus money via the Comcast Business TOUR TOP 10.

FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 FedExCup points.
COURSE: Three courses will once again be in use for The American Express.

• Pete Dye Stadium Course: 7,210 yards, par 72
• La Quinta Country Club: 7,060 yards, par 72
• Nicklaus Tournament Course: 7,147 yards, par 72

Players will rotate across the three venues from Thursday through Saturday, followed by a 54-hole cut to the top 65 players and ties. The final round will be played at the Pete Dye Stadium Course, which features a bevy of memorable holes down the stretch including the 600-yard, par-5 16th – guarded by a deep bunker that flanks the green’s left side – and the 165-yard, island-green par-3 17th. Overall, The American Express is known for low scores, with an average winning total of 26-under across the last six iterations. The field is greeted with a desert landscape and player-friendly conditions in accordance with the pro-am format.
72-HOLE RECORD: 259, Nick Dunlap (2024)
18-HOLE RECORD: 59, David Duval (Round 5, 1999 at PGA WEST/Palmer), Adam Hadwin (Round 3, 2017 at La Quinta CC); Stadium Course record: 61, Patrick Cantlay (Round 4, 2021); Nicklaus Tournament record: 61, Will Zalatoris (Round 2, 2022), Sam Burns (Round 2, 2024)
LAST TIME: Nick Dunlap became the first amateur to win on TOUR since 1991, carding a four-round total of 29-under 259 for a one-stroke victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Dunlap, competing as a University of Alabama sophomore, vaulted up the leaderboard with a third-round 60 at La Quinta Country Club, and he held on with a final-round 70 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course, rallying from a double bogey at the par-4 seventh hole with three birdies and no bogeys the rest of the way. Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Kevin Yu shared third place at 27-under, two back of Dunlap’s winning total. Dunlap turned pro less than a week after his victory and accepted PGA TOUR membership.

How to follow (all times ET)​

Television:

• Thursday-Sunday: 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel)

PGA TOUR LIVE:
PGA TOUR LIVE is available exclusively on ESPN+

• Main feed: Primary tournament-coverage featuring the best action from across the course.
• Marquee group: New “marquee group” showcasing every shot from each player in the group.
• Featured groups: Traditional PGA TOUR LIVE coverage of two concurrent featured groups.
• Featured holes: Combination of par 3s and iconic or pivotal holes.

PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and free at PGATOUR.COM/liveaudio:

• Thursday-Friday: 1-7 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 2-7 p.m.

Congratulations again to last weeks winner @NoleLizards

@seminoleed maintains the overall season lead as we head to week 3



Good luck to everyone this week

With scholarship rosters increasing in size to 105 but overall rosters decreasing, it's a fascinating offseason to see how the 2025 FSU roster shapes up.

We'll be updating this roster tracker over the next few weeks to keep an eye on how many spots FSU has left. As of Sunday morning, they are 79, without knowing which walk-ons FSU will retain in 2025.

Peter Warrick and Sebastian Janikowski were nominated this year.

Here are the inductees as players and coaches

PLAYERS

• Montee Ball, RB (2009-12) – University of Wisconsin
• Gregg Carr, LB (1981-84) – Auburn University
• Blake Elliott, WR (2000-03) – Saint John’s University (MN)
• Greg Eslinger, C (2002-05) – University of Minnesota
• Terry Hanratty, QB (1966-68) – University of Notre Dame
• Graham Harrell, QB (2005-08) – Texas Tech University
• John Henderson, DT (1999-2001) – University of Tennessee
• Michael Huff, DB (2002-05) – University of Texas
• Jim Kleinsasser, TE (1995-98) – University of North Dakota
• Alex Mack, OL (2005-08) – University of California
• Terrence Metcalf, OL (1997, 1999-2001) – University of Mississippi
• Haloti Ngata, DT (2002, 2004-05) – University of Oregon
• Steve Slaton, RB (2005-07) – West Virginia University
• Darrin Smith, LB (1989-92) – University of Miami
• Michael Strahan, DL (1989-92) – Texas Southern University
• Dennis Thurman, DB (1974-77) – University of Southern California
• Michael Vick, QB (1999-2000) – Virginia Tech
• Ryan Yarborough, WR (1990-93) – University of Wyoming

COACHES

• Larry Blakeney – 178-113-1 (61.1%): Troy University (1991-2014)
• Larry Korver – 212-77-6 (72.9%): Northwestern College [IA] (1967-94)
• Urban Meyer – 187-32-0 (85.4%): Bowling Green State University (2001-02): University of Utah (2003-04); University of Florida (2005-10); Ohio State University (2012-18)
• Nick Saban – 292-71-1 (80.4%): University of Toledo (1990); Michigan State University (1995-99); LSU (2000-04); University of Alabama (2007-23)

FSU sports information:

Head Coach Chris Poole and the Florida State volleyball program added another transfer on Wednesday afternoon in 6-2 opposite hitter Nicole Mauser.

"Nicole has had a successful two years at the Division I level as a right side attacker and is a position of great need for us this spring. She played at a very high level in club volleyball and is attending FSU this spring to get a head start with the rest of the team," Poole said.

In two seasons at California Baptist, Mauser proved to be one of the top players in the WAC. As a true freshman, Mauser started every match for the Lancers and recorded 225 kills while hitting .257. Mauser also recorded 60 blocks and 54 digs on her way to earning the 2023 WAC Freshman of the Year award.

Mauser continued her success in 2024 as she led the Lancers with 246 kills and added 48 blocks. Mauser had 11 matches where she recorded 10 or more kills. Her best match of the year came against Tarleton State where she recorded 23 kills and hit .408. Mauser earned Second Team All-WAC following the 2024 season.

From the NCAA:

Beginning this year, teams participating and advancing in the Division I Women's Basketball Championship will earn financial rewards for their conferences, the Division I membership decided Wednesday at the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

"This is a historic day for women's sports, women's basketball and the NCAA," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "We have made investing in women's sports a priority, and today's vote means our members have the opportunity to do even more on campus to promote and support female athletes. I can't wait to see all the incredible things they do."

The "units" will be earned first with the 2025 tournament and distributed starting in 2026. Last summer, the NCAA Board of Governors approved the funding to establish two revenue distribution categories and to increase their value to $25 million over three years.

The distribution structure for the Women's Basketball Equal Conference Fund and Women's Basketball Performance Fund will be similar to that of the Division I men's basketball tournament.

The funds will begin at a combined value of $15 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, increase to $20 million for 2026-27 and reach $25 million starting with 2027-28. After reaching the fully funded amount of $25 million, the funds would grow at the same rate as all other Division I funds, which is approximately 2.9% each year. Units earned by participating teams would be paid out to schools' respective conference offices starting in 2026 on a rolling three-year basis.

Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach, a member of the Women's Basketball Oversight Committee and a board member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, praised the decision.

"For several years, NCAA members have been working to advance gender equity in college sports, including and especially in women's basketball, and the passage of this proposal marks a significant step toward that goal," she said. "At the same time, women's college basketball is skyrocketing in popularity, and now is the time for NCAA members to invest financially in the sport to continue its growth trajectory while enhancing the major experiences we strive to provide."

Lach noted that the funds will be distributed to conferences without restrictions on their use, but she indicated the Horizon League would use its distributions to reward schools for their strength of schedule and performance in the women's basketball tournament. She encouraged other leagues to do the same.

Student-athlete Kennedy Todd-Williams, who plays women's basketball at Ole Miss and serves on the Women's Basketball Oversight Committee with Roe Lach, said the decision shows the importance of women's sports in the college landscape.

"Women's basketball has so much to offer, not just to athletes, but to fans and communities everywhere," Todd-Williams said. "As a women's basketball player, I believe investing in our game is crucial to unlocking its full potential. By creating more opportunities and resources, the NCAA can help elevate women's basketball to new heights and show the world just how incredible this sport is. Together, we can grow the game and inspire the future of women's sports."

Needs its own thread.

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Mike Norvell talked extensively about some FSU transfer additions for the first time during last night’s @SeminoleBooster livestream.

He said Thomas Castellanos is one of the most dynamic players in the nation, Duce Robinson has a size/speed combo that sets him apart and that he was looking for defensive linemen who give elite-level effort.

Trying real hard to blow his first Korn Ferry tournament win…

@BrainVision are you safe?

FSU softball coach Lonni Alameda discusses 2025 outlook, transfer pitchers, schedule

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FSU updated its online football roster today, adding jersey numbers and measurements for its 31 mid-year enrollees.

See what numbers the newest Seminoles will be wearing in 2025, along with a few number changes for returning players.

FSU will be hosting a number of prospects on January 18th for one of several Junior Days this winter/spring. Several prospects have already announced that they plan to be in Tallahassee that weekend.

Right here:

Does anybody know how that works? I would think it is some sort of average between HS recruiting class and portal class. . .but it just seems waaaaaay off.

For example UF has the #9 recruiting class, but the #89 portal class. . .their comprehensive ranking is #12.

FSU has the #20 ranked recruiting class and the #12 portal class. . .for a comprehensive ranking of #17.

Miami. . .#13 recruiting, #34 portal. . .comprehensive ranking: #11

I guess the more I look at it, it's just a total points system, based on their rankings given to each kid, I'm not sure how else they could do it. I mean, for the immediate future I'd much rather have a senior left tackle with tons of SEC experience than a four star tackle who won't see the field for two years. I get how getting the HS talent is important for long term success, but proven experience has value, too. I guess I just feel that our big time gets out of the portal would carry a bit more weight in the comprehensive rankings that what we are seeing.

I know rankings don't mean much, but when you look at needs, would you trade our current comprehensive class for either UM or UF's. With this haul of immediate plug in OL, DL, and LB I know I wouldn't.

FSU sports information:

The Florida State women’s basketball team (13-4, 3-2 ACC) returns home to host Clemson (10-7, 3-2 ACC), on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

The Seminoles lead the all-time series against the Tigers 38-28, with FSU winning six out of the last seven meetings.

Ta’Niya Latson leads the nation in scoring with an average 26.8 points per game in addition to ranking fifth in total points (428), while Makayla Timpson ranks second in blocks (52) and blocks per game (3.06).

Timpson, who leads the ACC this season in double-doubles with nine, is one away from tying Natasha Howard’s career program record at 41.

Latson, Timpson and O’Mariah Gordon also lead the FSU offense that ranks first in the ACC and second in the nation at 92.8 points per game.

The game will air on the ACC Network Extra. The Seminoles Sport Network can be found on Seminoles.com and at 96.5 The Spear.

Last Time Out

The Seminoles fell to Cal (16-2, 4-1 ACC) on Sunday at the Haas Pavilion, 82-70.

Timpson led the team with 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Amaya Bonner tallied a season high in points, scoring 14, with Latson following behind at 13 and Gordon at 12.

The Seminoles held the Bears to 33 percent shooting in the second half, outscoring them 24-10 in the fourth.

Updates from Rivals analyst Adam Gorney on 2026 and '27 prospects, including FSU quarterback commit Brady Smigiel:

The stories in the Duce Robinson thread made me think of this. It's the offseason so why not.

I fully expect Maryland- NC State- UF - Miami to win this battle lulz.

The only time I really thought I was gonna beat someone's arse was after we lost at UF in '97. There was a frat guy, drunk, talking crap to me and my dad on the way to the parking lot. Mind you , both me and my dad are over 6'4" and 240 lbs at the time. I was 29 and my dad was 52.

He would not shut up. Vulgar, nasty typical UF inbred fan/student.

As we got closer to the parking lot, the light ended and the trees made it pitch black. About 20 feet out my dad leaned over and said " if this guy follows us into the dark we are gonna whip his ass". I said " you got it".

I don't know if the frat guy heard us or just realized he was about to get pulverized, but he stopped yapping about 5 feet from the darkness and went back to his friends. He has no idea how lucky he got. 😂

I once saw a UF fan after our loss in 82 at home to them yelling at FSU fans outside the stadium. Right next to a State Trooper directing traffic. A rather large FSU fan gave him a forearm to the head and dropped him. When the gator whined to the trooper the trooper told him to keep walking .....

FSU coaches are back on the road for the April/May 2024 Contact Period seeing prospects from 2025, 2026 and 2027. Here is a look at some of the more recent 2027 offers to go out.

Florida State (11-5, 2-3 ACC) plays host to Pittsburgh (12-4, 3-2) on Wednesday at 9 p.m. against Pittsburgh. The game is set for ESPNU.

FSU is coming off a humbling road loss at Clemson. Pitt is coming off a lopsided 76-47 loss to Duke at Durham and an 82-78 loss to Louisville in Pittsburgh.

Cam Corhen, an FSU transfer, is playing a career-high 29 minutes for Pitt. He is averaging 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds. Pitt coach Jeff Capel downplayed Corhen's return to Tallahassee.

"We've lost two games in a row," Capel said on Monday's Zoom with the ACC coaches. "So our focus should be on whatever we have to do to win. This is not about Cam vs. Florida State. This is about Pitt vs. Florida State."

It will be interesting to see what the reaction is for Corhen. I'm not expecting a hostile crowd on Wednesday at 9 p.m. But do the students boo him? And to remind, Corhen is not among the six former Seminoles who have brought a lawsuit against FSU coach Leonard Hamilton.

"You can expect him to give you a good effort every time he shows up," Hamilton said. "He practices the way he plays. He's a youngster that with a high IQ, but he also has a tremendous passion for the game. He seems to be fitting right in to what Pittsburgh needs him to do."

Malique Ewin has double-doubles in FSU's last two games – 20 points and 10 rebounds at Miami (Jan. 8) and 15 points and 10 rebounds against Clemson (Jan. 11). The last Seminole to record three consecutive doubles was Matthew Cleveland against Wake Forest (Jan. 11, 2023), Virginia (January 14, 2023) and Notre Dame (Jan. 17, 2023). Ewin has a 13-game streak of double-doubles.

Jamir Watkins has continued his streak of scoring in double figures to 13 games -- but just barely. He's shot 7 of 19 from the floor in the last two games, which includes a rough 2 of 8 from 3-point range at Clemson.

FSU is 6-2 in home games this year. This one would be huge. KenPom has Pitt rated at No. 27. But perhaps with the Panthers' recent struggles and FSU's success at home, KenPom only has Pitt winning by three.

Pitt has won three of the last four games in the series.

The Seminoles are also home against Georgia Tech on Saturday at noon.

Mike Norvell talked at length tonight about his excitement about new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and defensive coordinator Tony White.

He is high on what both of them will bring to FSU in helping restore an aggressive identity that was lost in 2024

Jaydin Broadnax from West Boca Raton (Fla.) High released an early top-seven on Tuesday night. The four-star safety who is ranked as the 216th-best overall prospect in the class of 2026 has Florida State among those schools as well as Auburn, Florida, USF, Michigan, Syracuse and Louisville.

Broadnax has already taken multiple unofficial visits to FSU including this past November when he watched the Seminoles take on Clemson.

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As expected, Antonio Cromartie Jr. has committed to Florida State on Monday evening.

Story Link: Antonio Cromartie Jr. commits to Florida State

If the additions of UCF transfer Randy Pittman and Arizona State transfer Markeston Douglas (who opted to boomerang after playing at FSU from 2020-23) tell us anything, it’s that FSU coach Mike Norvell and tight ends coach Chris Thomsen are done with projects.

And that they don’t, candidly, have the luxury of fans' patience coming off a 2-10 season to develop a non-tight end into a tight end. They need tight ends who have experience, can learn the scheme in the offseason (and in Douglas’ case, familiarize with it yet again) and be productive this fall.

This man understands it, he is grateful and has that football program rolling in year 3. Brian Kelly did them a favor when he left.