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The American Express Preview & Picks - Best PGA Tour Bets For California

gary-emmerson
2 hours ago
gary-emmerson
Gary Emmerson 2 hours ago
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  • The American Express picks for January 16-19
  • Tournament taking place at La Quinta Country Club in California
  • Preview, predictions, stats & form
Sungjae Im (Getty Images)
The PGA Tour returns to the mainland for this week's American Express tournament at La Quinta Country Club, but who will win the opening leg of the West Coast Swing?

Nick Dunlap is back to defend his title after a one-stroke victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout in 2024. 

Players will rotate between the PGA West Stadium Course, the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club. Players who make the tournament cut after 54 holes will contest the final round on the Stadium Course. 

Past and present major winners in the field include Wyndham Clark, Jason Day, Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson, Justin Thomas, Francesco Molinari, Brian Harman, Lucas Glover and Danny Willett. 

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend. 

Sungjae Im


Sungjae Im has been producing consistent results in the PGA Tour lately, placing T11 at the BMW Championship, 7th at the Tour Championship, T13 at the ZOZO Championship, T9 at the Hero World Challenge and 3rd at the Sentry.  

Other noteworthy results achieved by Sungjae Im last year include winning at the Woori Financial Group Championship (Korean Tour) and finishing T4 at the Wells Fargo Championship, T9 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, T8 at the Memorial Tournament, T3 at the Travelers Championship, T12 at the John Deere Classic, T4 at the Genesis Scottish Open and T7 at the Open Championship. 

The South Korean has made six appearances at the American Express, placing T12 in 2019, T10 in 2020, T12 in 2021, T11 in 2022, T18 in 2023 and T25 in 2024. 

Im comes into this event in great shape and has a solid record at the La Quinta Country Club, giving him an excellent chance to secure the title. 

Patrick Cantlay 


Patrick Cantlay has been in great touch on the PGA Tour lately, finishing T12 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T13 at the BMW Championship, T17 at the Tour Championship, T11th at the Hero World Challenge and T15 at the Sentry.

Other notable results achieved by Cantlay last season include placing T11 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T4 at the Genesis Invitational, T22 at the Masters, T3 at the RBC Heritage, T23 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, T3 at the U.S. Open, and T5 at the Travelers Championship. 

The world's 11th-ranked golfer has produced solid performances at La Quinta Country Club, finishing T9 in 2019, 2nd in 2021, 9th in 2022, T26 in 2023 and T52 in 2024 in five outings. 

Cantlay rediscovered his touch during the second half of last year and can emerge as the winner in California this weekend. 

Sam Burns 


Sam Burns has been in top form on the PGA Tour lately, placing T5 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T2 at the BMW Championship, T12 at the Tour Championship, T14 at the Hero World Challenge, and T8 at the Sentry.

Burn's additional highlights achieved during 2024 include finishing 10th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T3 at the WM Phoenix Open, T10 at the Genesis Invitational, T13 at the Wells Fargo Championship, T10 at the RBC Canadian Open, T15 at the Memorial Tournament, T9 at the U.S. Open, and T12 at the 3M Open. 

The five-time PGA Tour winner has an excellent record at the American Express, placing T18 in 2019, T6 in 2020, MC in 2021, T11 in 2023, and T6 in 2024.

Burns has performed well in recent outings and can win at the La Quinta Country come Sunday. 

Harry Hall 


Harry Hall has been thereabouts since mid-October last year, placing T9 at the Shriners Children's Open, T13 at the ZOZO Championship, T14 at the World Wide Technology Championship, T8 at the Sentry and T10 at the Sony Open in Hawaii last weekend. 

Other prominent performances Hall achieved on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour last year include winning the ISCO Championship and finishing T12 at the John Deere Classic, T12 at the Betfred British Masters and T18 at the BMW PGA Championship. 

The Englishman golfer has featured twice at the American Express, finishing T41 in 2023 before he missed the cut at the 2024 edition. 

Hall has found consistency in his game lately and offers an excellent each-way bet in California. 

Verdict

Sungjae Im has been showing signs he is ready to register his first American Express title this weekend.
 
Cantlay can convert his recent displays into a winning performance in California come Sunday.
 
Burns has done nothing wrong lately and can add another PGA Tour trophy to his cabinet.
 
Hall has been playing well lately and could upstage the others with victory at the La Quinta Country Club.

Best Bet1: Sungjae Im Each-Way @1200.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Best Bet2: Patrick Cantlay Each-Way @1600.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Best Bet3: Sam Burns Each-Way @1800.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Harry Hall Each-Way @4000.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Sungjae Im
Each-Way
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Patrick Cantlay
Each-Way
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Sam Burns
Each-Way
@1800.0 - 1 Unit
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Harry Hall
Each-Way
@4000.0 - 1 Unit
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Bet at Stake.us