The American Express
January 16th – 19th, 2020
PGA West TPC Stadium Course
La Quinta, CA
Par: 72 / Yardage:
Purse: $6.7 million
with $1,206,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Adam Long

This week’s field includes:
There are 26 players in the top-100 and 11 of the top-50 in the latest Official World Rankings. Those in the top-50 are #15 Tony Finau, #17 Paul Casey, #20 Francesco Molinari, #22 Rickie Fowler, #27 Kevin Na, #30 Kevin Kisner, #35 Scunge Im, #6 Billy Horschel, #37 Chez Reavie, #39 Abraham Ancer and #44 Byeong Hun An.
Last year there were 6 top-50 players in the field.
The field includes 12 players in the top 25 on this year’s FedEx point standings. Those players are #2 Brendon Todd, #4 Sebastian Munoz, #8 Cameron Champ, #9 Sungjae Im, #11 Kevin Na, #13 Tyler Duncan, #16 Carlos Ortiz, #17 Harris English, #20 Byeong Hun An, #21 Danny Lee, #23 Adam Long and #24 Scottie Scheffler.
The field includes 10 past champions: Adam Long – 2019, Hudson Swafford – 2017, Jason Dufner – 2016, Bill Haas – 2015 & ’10, Brian Gay – 2013, Mark Wilson – 2012, Jhonattan Vegas – 2011, D.J. Trahan – 2008, Charley Hoffman – 2007 and Phil Mickelson – 2004 & ’02.
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the American Express field is our performance chart listed by the average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the American Express in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the American Express.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the Desert Classic
Player | Sony Hawaii | Sentry TofC | Australian PGA | DP World Dubai | RSM Classic | Mayakoba Classic | WGC HSBC Champions | Bermuda Champ. | Zozo Champ. | CJ Cup | Houston Open | Shriners Hospitals | Safeway Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brendon Todd (165.33 pts) |
T21 (29) |
29 (21) |
DNP | DNP | 4 (26.67) |
Win (44) |
DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | DNP | T28 (7.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Kevin Kisner (120 pts) |
T4 (80) |
T14 (36) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T76 (0) |
T28 (7.33) |
DNP | T66 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Cameron Champ (106.67 pts) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
T27 (15.33) |
DNP | DNP | T33 (5.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T23 (9) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Win (44) |
Brendan Steele (103.33 pts) |
2 (100) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T41 (3) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T29 (7) |
T60 (0) |
Charles Howell III (102.67 pts) |
T12 (38) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T20 (10) |
T36 (4.67) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
T20 (10) |
DNP | T68 (0) |
T4 (26.67) |
Cameron Davis (91.67 pts) |
T9 (45) |
DNP | T3 (60) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Vaughn Taylor (87.67 pts) |
T12 (38) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 (13.33) |
T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | T41 (3) |
T60 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
Sungjae Im (76 pts) |
T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T11 (13) |
DNP | T3 (30) |
T39 (3.67) |
DNP | DNP | T49 (0.33) |
Henrik Norlander (73.67 pts) |
T9 (45) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (23.33) |
T41 (3) |
DNP | T28 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | T45 (1.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Tyler Duncan (73 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
T19 (31) |
DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
T48 (0.67) |
DNP | T18 (10.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
Scottie Scheffler (71.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (23.33) |
T18 (10.67) |
DNP | T3 (30) |
DNP | DNP | T28 (7.33) |
T74 (0) |
DNP |
Kevin Na (70 pts) |
DNP | T32 (18) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T46 (1.33) |
T20 (10) |
DNP | Win (44) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Rickie Fowler (70 pts) |
DNP | T5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Bo Hoag (70 pts) |
T9 (45) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 75 (0) |
T20 (10) |
DNP | T11 (13) |
DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
73 (0) |
T44 (2) |
Carlos Ortiz (67.67 pts) |
T53 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (26.67) |
T37 (4.33) |
T40 (3.33) |
Adam Long (65.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
T23 (27) |
DNP | DNP | T35 (5) |
T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | T51 (0) |
T46 (1.33) |
DNP | DNP | T23 (9) |
Matthew Wolff (62 pts) |
DNP | T11 (39) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 (12.33) |
74 (0) |
DNP | T18 (10.67) |
DNP |
Paul Casey (62 pts) |
DNP | T19 (31) |
DNP | T18 (16) |
DNP | DNP | T38 (4) |
DNP | T17 (11) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Brian Stuard (60 pts) |
T53 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 (13.33) |
T23 (9) |
DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | T72 (0) |
DNP | T4 (26.67) |
T17 (11) |
Sebastian Munoz (59.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
T17 (33) |
DNP | DNP | 3 (30) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T28 (7.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
T33 (5.67) |
Denny McCarthy (59 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
T48 (0.67) |
DNP | T15 (11.67) |
DNP | DNP | T9 (15) |
T9 (15) |
DNP |
Brian Gay (58.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T14 (12) |
DNP | T3 (30) |
DNP | DNP | T42 (2.67) |
T7 (18.33) |
T23 (9) |
J.T. Poston (57 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
T11 (39) |
DNP | DNP | T14 (12) |
T41 (3) |
T24 (8.67) |
DNP | T27 (7.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Russell Knox (54.67 pts) |
T32 (18) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T20 (10) |
T33 (5.67) |
DNP | T11 (13) |
DNP | DNP | T28 (7.33) |
T48 (0.67) |
DNP |
Harris English (52.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
5 (23.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (26.67) |
DNP | T33 (5.67) |
Abraham Ancer (51.67 pts) |
T38 (12) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
T4 (26.67) |
DNP | T41 (3) |
T57 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Danny Lee (51.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T26 (8) |
DNP | DNP | T10 (13.33) |
2 (33.33) |
DNP | T71 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
D.J. Trahan (49 pts) |
T28 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP | T45 (1.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Xinjun Zhang (47.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T48 (0.67) |
T38 (4) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (26.67) |
T16 (11.33) |
T7 (18.33) |
Harry Higgs (46.33 pts) |
T57 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T35 (5) |
T33 (5.67) |
DNP | 2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
T23 (9) |
Ted Potter, Jr. (45 pts) |
T7 (55) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Scott Harrington (44.67 pts) |
T57 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T43 (2.33) |
T72 (0) |
DNP | T53 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP | T23 (9) |
Rory Sabbatini (43.33 pts) |
T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T53 (0) |
T33 (5.67) |
DNP | DNP | T33 (5.67) |
T31 (6.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Alex Noren (43 pts) |
T32 (18) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 (13.33) |
DNP | DNP | T15 (11.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Nick Taylor (43 pts) |
T32 (18) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T26 (8) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T29 (7) |
T10 (13.33) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Desert Classic
Player | Sony Hawaii | Sentry TofC | Australian PGA | DP World Dubai | RSM Classic | Mayakoba Classic | WGC HSBC Champions | Bermuda Champ. | Zozo Champ. | CJ Cup | Houston Open | Shriners Hospitals | Safeway Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bo Van Pelt (-23.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
T62 (0) |
Vince Covello (-23.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Mackenzie Hughes (-20 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T65 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T55 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
J.J. Spaun (-20 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T80 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 73 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Jason Dufner (-20 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Anirban Lahiri (-18 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T50 (0.33) |
DNP | DNP | WD (-1.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Sam Burns (-16.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Doug Ghim (-16.67 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T65 (0) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Nelson Ledesma (-16 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T28 (7.33) |
DNP | DNP | T74 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Vincent Whaley (-15 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T65 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | WD (-1.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Desert Classic
Best Bets:
Sungjae Im
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T12 |
Played well last week, yes he played in the wind at Sony but I think he will be fine this week and will be in contention.
Abraham Ancer
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T18 | 76 | CUT |
Like his final round of 66 at PGA West last year, his game has drastically improved and I see him playing well this week.
Vaughn Taylor
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T7 | CUT | T41 | CUT | T25 | T10 | T34 | T8 |
Has played well in this event and having a good 2020.
Best of the rest:
Rickie Fowler
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T33 | CUT |
Plays well in the desert, his last win came in Phoenix. Played well at the Sentry and you never know he could put together four good rounds this week.
Paul Casey
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T58 | CUT |
He plays well on courses like PGA West, worried that he isn’t a birdie machine for the other courses.
Harris English
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T51 | T11 | T30 | T33 | T65 | T19 |
High in par breakers which is an important stat to win this week.
Tony Finau
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T59 |
Normally I would like him a lot, just worried that his trip from Hong Kong may take a toll on him.
Solid contenders
Phil Mickelson
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | CUT | T21 | T3 | T24 | T37 | T49 |
You never know with Phil, has lost a lot of weight getting ready for 2020.
Kevin Kisner
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T57 | T50 | T25 | CUT | T48 | T66 | CUT |
Played well at the Sony, is a good player looking to break out early in 2020.
Francesco Molinari
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T12 | T62 | T10 |
Just have to wonder why he is playing the desert in Palm Springs, instead of the desert of Abu Dhabi. We will see what kind of start his season has.
Byeong Hun An
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Playing in this event for the first time, played well at the Presidents Cup and at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
Jason Kokrak
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T18 | T8 | CUT | T48 | CUT | T8 | CUT |
Think he will have a great year starting off with this week.
Daniel Berger
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T12 | CUT |
Played well over the weekend at the Sony, could be good this week
Long shots that could come through:
Scottie Scheffler
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Rookie this week, shouldn’t matter because he is a birdie machine.
Bud Cauley
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T14 | T3 | T14 | CUT | T37 | T30 |
He was 51 under in three years at PGA West before missing the cut last year.
Maverick McNealy
2020 | ’19 | ’18 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT |
High up in par breakers means that he should be good for this week as a rookie.
update the name from the desert classic to the american express
thanks, thought I did that.