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The American Express Preview - Best bets for the title in California

Gary Emmerson

Editor

Last updated: 16 Jan 2024

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Gary Emmerson 16 Jan 2024

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The American Express takes place between 18-21 January
The tournament takes place at La Quinta Country Club, California
Jon Rahm is the reigning champion
Our 4 selections who can win the title

Expired

Xander Schauffele (Getty Images)

A star-studded field of the world's premier golfers converge in California to compete for the American Express title at La Quinta Country Club. Who will win the second PGA Tour tournament of the year?

Jon Rahm will not be back to defend his title after his mega-money switch to the LIV Golf Series.

Past and present major winners in the field include Wyndham Clark, Jason Day, Jason Dufner, Scottie Scheffler, Zach Johnson, Shane Lowry, and Justin Thomas. Also competing are Ryder Cup stars Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele.

Players will rotate between the PGA West Stadium Course, the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club. After 54 holes, all the players who make the cut will contest the final round on the Stadium Course.

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.

Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele has been thereabouts on the PGA Tour since mid-June last year, finishing T10 at the US Open, T19 at the Travelers Championship, T42 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T17 at the Open Championship, T24 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T8 at the BMW Championship, 2nd at the Tour Championship, T38 at the ZOZO Championship and T10 at the Sentry last weekend.

Other noteworthy results achieved by Shauffele last season include placing T13 at the Farmers Insurance Open, T10 at the WM Phoenix Open, T19 at the Players Championship, T5 at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, T10 at the Masters, T4 at the RBC Heritage, T4 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, 2nd at the Wells Fargo Championship, T18 at the PGA Championship and T24 at the Memorial Tournament.

The world's number-five-ranked golfer struggled in his first two attempts to win the American Express, missing the cut in 2016 and 2017 before placing T3 overall in 2023.

Schauffele has been a model of consistency and will look to start the new season by winning the title at La Quinta Country Club.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas has been knocking hard in his last four starts on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, placing T12 at the Wyndham Championship, 5th at the Fortinet Championship, 4th at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and 3rd at the Hero World Challenge.

Other prominent performances achieved by Thomas last year include finishing T25 at the Farmers Insurance Open, 4th at the WM Phoenix Open, T20 at the Genesis Invitational, T21 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T10 at the Valspar Championship, T25 at the RBC Heritage, T14 at the Wells Fargo Championship and T9 at the Travelers Championship.

The two-time Major winner missed the cut on debut at this event in 2023 before placing T7 in 2014.

Thomas has been in great shape on the golf course and can convert that form into victory at the American Express this weekend.

Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee has been in tremendous form lately, with results of victory at the SJM Macao Open (Asian Tour), T6 at the ZOZO Championship, T15 at the DP World Tour Championship, victory at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and 3rd at the ISPS Handa Australian Open.

Other notable achievements by Lee on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour last year include finishing T6 at the Players Championship, T18 at the PGA Championship, T5 at the US Open, T9 at the Travelers Championship, T15 at the Betfred British Masters, T7 at the Horizon Irish Open and T14 at the BMW PGA Championship.

The Australian golfer is debuting at the American Express this weekend.

Lee has won two tournaments in his last five starts and should enter calculations this weekend.

J.T. Poston

J.T. Poston has been in great touch on the PGA Tour since July last year, placing T6 at the John Deere Classic, T6 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T41 at the Open Championship, T2 at the 3M Open and T7 at the Wyndham Championship.

He was also T24 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T22 at the BMW Championship, T3 at the Shriners Children's Open, T44 at the RSM Classic, T5 at the Sentry and 6th at the Sony Open in Hawaii last weekend.

Additional highlights achieved by Poston last year include finishing T10 at the Valspar Championship and T9 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

The 30-year-old American has a solid record at this tournament, placing T34 in 2017, MC in 2018, T7 in 2019, T37 in 2020, MC in 2021, T25 in 2022 and T6 in 2023.

Poston has featured high on the leaderboards at numerous tournaments lately and could surprise the others with victory at the American Express.

Verdict

The American Express

Schauffele brings solid form into this tournament and will fancy his chances to win another PGA Tour title.

Thomas has looked back to his best in recent outings and can win the American Express this weekend.

Lee has been playing well and can feature prominently at La Quinta Country Club.

Poston has been ultra-consistent lately and could emerge as the winner in California this weekend.

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