The PGA Tour returns to the mainland after two weeks in Hawaii with the staging of The American Express in Palm Springs, a time-honoured tournament that dates back to 1960 and has been won by Palmer, Nicklaus, Miller, Mickelson and Rahm.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- GIR
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Tee To Green
- Birdie or Better
- Par 4 Scoring
- Bogey Avoidance
- Scrambling
- Approach: 250-275 Yards
This tournament is staged over three different courses but essentially what we are looking for is a player who can go low – the highest winning score since 2008 is -20 with 11 winners reaching -25 – and this is typically achieved in Palm Springs by bringing an elite approach game.
Key Correlation Courses
- TPC Scottsdale
BEST BET
TONY FINAU
Very keen on the chances of Big Tony breaking through for a long overdue win.
He has had his foot on the till for a while with Top 25 finishes in 10 of his last 15 starts including a T-15 at The Sentry.
Finished last year ranked second in Strokes Gained: Approach, third in Par 5 Scoring and fourth in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green.
Ranks second in strokes gained on Nicklaus courses and 10th on Dye courses.
It is only his ability to get over the line that is of concern.
BEST VALUE
MAX GREYSERMAN
Young Max Greyserman is a player on the rise who is one worth following.
He ranks second in Strokes Gained: Putting and to quote Jon Rahm, The American Express is an “[expletive deleted] putting contest”.
He has finished Top 4 in four of his last seven starts on the back of some big true strokes gained putting numbers.
Lovely play this week.
PATRICK FISHBURN
Patrick Fishburn is a player who ranks Top 15 in the field on Pete Dye courses and looks a big shot this week having been in contention last week before finishing T-6.
Ranks third in Bogey Avoidance and seventh in Par 5 Scoring.
Rarely turns in a bad tournament and has thrived in these lesser events.
BEST ROUGHIES
BILLY HORSCHEL
Billy Ho is an utterly ridiculous price this week and looks the best value bet of the week.
After winning the BMW PGA Championship his form has tailed a little but he will absolutely be in the mix.
Leads the Tour in Approaches from 250-275 Yards while he ranks 14th in Par 5 Scoring.
Top 20 special.
JACOB BRIDGEMAN
Ranks eighth in the field on Pete Dye courses in his fledgling career so a good sign. He is a tremendous putter who ranks 6th in Birdie or Better and 7th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Missed his last two cuts but can pinch a Top 10 if he finds his best.
TOP BRITISH
HARRY HALL
No spoil the price but Hall will be winning the three-man English field.
He is airborne at the moment and his putting will take him a long way here.
Can win it all.
TOP CANADIAN
NICK TAYLOR
Taylor is a highly underrated player who has won five times on Tour and is a perfect 3-0 in playoffs.
He has won in Phoenix and goes well here.
