People in the desert will talk about five of the best players in the world at The American Express golf tournament in La Quinta this weekend. The most curious thing about the field is the curiosity people display.
Is anyone really shocked by the fact that The American Express has many of the best golfers in this field, 17 out of the 50 top players, just because they haven’t been paying much attention to the tournament the past few years? Since the mid-to-late 2000s, when the event was struggling to reach any of the top 50 in the world rankings, the field has steadily improved.
But why now? But why is there such a high number of top players in La Quinta this week.
It is a combination o f circumstances that has made the desert’s PGA Tour event much more attractive than it was 10 or 15 years back.
Take, for example:
The designated schedule
The American Express has never had a good week in the third week of the year. The third week is looking strong, as 17 tournaments have been designated by the PGA Tour as mandatory events for players who are interested in receiving Player Impact Program bonus cash. Many of the best players have stated that their schedule for the West Coast will include five events, including three in Hawaii, Scottsdale, and Los Angeles. The Farmers Insurance event in San Diego and The American Express are the two events that are not designated. The Sony Open, and possibly the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am get less love.
Sponsorship
Many players believe that American Express sponsorship is what makes the tournament different. It came to the tournament prior to 2020 and has been signed up to sponsor the tournament through 2028.
American Express is known for providing high-end experiences to its cardholders in entertainment and sports. This includes the La Quinta tournament. American Express has made a mark on the tournament with its changes in concert series over the years and small details such as tables and seating at the driving range for amateurs during a Wednesday pro-am. It’s all evident, according to a player who was back in the tournament for a first time since 2017.
World No.1 Xander Schauffele said, “I was there seven years ago (for one of the two appearances),” 6 Xander Schauffele The tournaments are better and the pros tend to show up more often. This is just how it works.
The golf courses
No one will confuse The American Express’ three courses with Augusta National or Winged Foot. Many golfers have mentioned the course conditions and the possibility to play three rounds in perfect weather as reasons to visit the desert this week, or any other year. It’s not just spring training, like baseball. There is also money and FedEx Cup points. The American Express is a great place to return to competitive play in perfect conditions if you’re a well-known player who only played one or two fall events.
More than just a little luck
Scottie Scheffler played in The American Express three more times. However, since his last round 12 months ago, Scottie Scheffler won four tournaments, including the Masters. He also became the No. He was voted the 2022 PGA Tour player-of-the-year and is a hot property for tournaments. Jon Rahm was present at the tournament when SportFive (then Lagardere), joined the tournament. Rahm won the 2018 event as a representative of Lagardere. Tony Finau is an American Express ambassador, and he has won four tournaments since 2021. It’s the same with others who are in La Quinta for a while rising up to top-10 status, or staying there for many years – like Rahm. This helps to strengthen The American Express field.
The tournament is experiencing a lot of upward momentum, as it has for only a few years. The momentum will continue into 2024, local golf fans can only hope.
Larry Bohannan, The Desert Sun’s golf writer, is Larry Bohannan. You can contact him at (760) 778-4633 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @larry_bohannan
