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
| Official World Golf Ranking | FedExCup |
| 2. Xander Schauffele | 2. Nick Taylor |
| 7. Wyndham Clark | 4. Sungjae Im |
| 11. Patrick Cantlay | 5. Nico Echavarria |
| 15. Billy Horschel | 6. Jhonattan Vegas |
| 18. Sungjae Im | 10. Harry Hall |
| 20. Sam Burns | T12. Tom Hoge |
| 21. Justin Thomas | 14. J.J. Spaun |
| 23. Tom Kim | T15. Cameron Young |
| 24. Tony Finau | T15. Sam Burns |
| 30. Brian Harman | 18. Eric Cole |
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
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)
| Stream | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Stream 1 | Main feed: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Main feed: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Main feed: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Main feed: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| Stream 1 | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. |
| Stream 2 | Marquee group: 1-4 p.m. | Marquee group: 1-4 p.m. | Marquee group: 12:30-4 p.m. | Marquee group: 12:30-4 p.m. |
| Stream 2 | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. | Featured group: 4-7 p.m. |
| Stream 3 | Featured groups: 12:15-4 p.m. | Featured groups: 12:15-4 p.m. | Featured groups: 12:15-4 p.m. | Featured groups: 12:15-4 p.m. |
| Stream 3 | Featured holes: 4-7 p.m. | Featured holes: 4-7 p.m. | Featured holes: 4-7 p.m. | Featured holes: 4-7 p.m. |
| Stream 4 | Featured holes: 12:15-4 p.m. | Featured holes: 12:15-4 p.m. | Featured holes: 12:15-4 p.m. | Featured holes: 12:15-4 p.m. |
| Stream 4 | Featured hole: 4-7 p.m. | Featured hole: 4-7 p.m. | Featured hole: 4-7 p.m. | Featured hole: 4-7 p.m. |
- 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.
- 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
