The American Express PGA Tour event in La Quinta is just 90 days away and is expected to be a significant tournament for the players and the tour as a whole. With the PGA Tour’s calendar changing in 2024, the January events on the circuit will carry more importance. Only the winners of the two Hawaii events prior to The American Express will have secured berths in the FedEx Cup playoffs. But that’s just one storyline to follow at The American Express on Jan. 18-21.
Here are some other compelling storylines:
Jon Rahm as defending champion
Last January, Rahm won his second The American Express title, joining a select group of golfers who have won the tournament multiple times. Arnold Palmer is the only player to have won the tournament three times. Rahm, a top player in the game and a two-time major champion, will aim to match Palmer’s record with a third victory in the Coachella Valley.
The new calendar
With the end of the wraparound season, more emphasis will be placed on the events in the FedEx Cup playoff race. The fall events no longer count towards the playoffs, which means there will only be two points-earning tournaments before The American Express. A win or a high finish at The American Express will be crucial for golfers aiming to qualify for the playoffs and earn bonus pool money.
The field
Last year, The American Express attracted a strong field, with seven of the top 10 and 10 of the top 19 players in the Official World Golf Rankings participating. Despite not being a major championship or an elevated event, the tournament consistently draws top talent. With fewer events before the playoffs and fewer opportunities to secure a playoff spot, the chances of another strong field are high.
New framework will not be in place
One of the anticipated storylines for the 2024 season was the potential merger of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour with the support of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. However, it is unlikely that the new tour framework will be established in 2024 due to ongoing negotiations and exploration of outside investment possibilities by the PGA Tour. Therefore, The American Express will be played as part of the PGA Tour schedule, maintaining its traditional format.
The bands
The lineup of musical acts scheduled to perform at The American Express has not been announced yet. In recent years, the concert series has featured a mix of classic rock, country, and pop acts. American Express, the tournament’s sponsor, often influences the choice of bands. The official announcements regarding the bands are expected in the coming weeks.
The major winners
Jon Rahm, the defending champion, will enter The American Express with the Masters title he won in 2023. The participation of other major champions from 2023, such as Brooks Koepka, remains uncertain due to their affiliation with the LIV tour. However, players like Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman, winners of the U.S. Open and British Open respectively, have regularly competed in The American Express and may choose to play again in January, adding further prestige to the tournament.
Larry Bohannan is the golf writer for The Desert Sun. You can contact him at (760) 778-4633 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at @larry_bohannan. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Desert Sun.
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Daniel Miller takes readers to the greens with his passion for golf. He offers coverage of major golf tournaments, player achievements, and insights into the sport’s rich history, making him a trusted source for golf enthusiasts.
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