LA QUINTA, Calif. — Every person who tees it up in a PGA Tour event is a good player and worth keeping an eye on, especially this week in the Coachella Valley at the 2023 American Express.
Five of the top 10 players in the world (as well as 10 of the top 19) have made their way to PGA West to highlight a strong field that also includes a handful of past champions.
Some players, however, are more intriguing than others. Here are 10 players who could be at or near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday’s final round.
Maybe Scheffler is a different player than the guy who played in the 2022 American Express and finished 25th. After that, he went on to win four tournaments, capped by a victory at the Masters, and was named the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year. Scheffler’s year included runs at the U.S. Open and the Tour Championship, as well. He’s a favorite most times he tees off.
Scottie Scheffler and caddie Ted Scott on the ninth hole during the third round of the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii: (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Rahm, the 2018 American Express winner, is capable of winning wherever. He again won on both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour last year, and won just two weeks ago at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. He’s one of the players to watch in every major championship. Rahm’s love of the American Southwest means he focuses on playing well in those tournaments. That could include a second title at The American Express.
Jon Rahm plays the Pete Dye Stadium course during the final round of The American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, California on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)
Finau had the breakout year everyone had been expecting from him in the 2021-22 season, with three wins. Finau has been a fixture in La Quinta since American Express took over as the sponsor, and he’s been a fixture on the leaderboard as well. Now that he’s won multiple tournaments in a year, a title at the American Express is more of a possibility.
Tony Finau hits his chip shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Kim won the desert tournament in 2021 with critical birdies on the 16th and 17th holes Sunday, and did something similar last…
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