American Express golf tournament today features Scottie Scheffler vs loaded field in California

Scottie Scheffler dominates the betting board as The American Express kicks off today in La Quinta with one of the strongest fields ever assembled. The world number one enters at crushing +290 odds to win, a massive advantage over challengers Ben Griffin and Ludvig Åberg. Can the loaded field mount a serious threat, or will Scheffler extend his reign of dominance?

Scheffler Returns to Begin His 2026 Campaign in the Desert

Scottie Scheffler’s 2026 season officially begins today at The American Express. The world number one missed this event last year due to a kitchen mishap but returns as the clear betting favorite to capture his first win of the season. Scheffler‘s ball control is unmatched, routinely dominating fields with relentless, pin-high iron play that leaves competitors chasing shadows. His recent form includes a fourth-place finish at the Hero World Challenge in December, proving he’s primed for another dominant run.

The defending champion Sepp Straka won last year at 25-under par, setting a high scoring benchmark. Scheffler’s relentless accuracy and short-game excellence should prove too much for this field, even on a course layout designed to produce low scores. His only weakness might be complacency, but that rarely happens with the 24-year-old phenom.

Ben Griffin and Ludvig Åberg Chase History in Loaded Field

Ben Griffin and Ludvig Åberg represent the field’s best hope to challenge Scheffler this week. Griffin, fresh off a top-20 finish at the Sony Open last weekend, has been incredibly consistent, posting seven top-20 finishes in his last eight PGA Tour starts. He finished T-7 at The American Express two years ago and brings elite iron play plus exceptional green management to the desert.

Ludvig Åberg, the talented Swedish phenom, begins his 2026 season here after sitting out Hawaii. Åberg has demonstrated he can go extremely low, winning his first PGA Tour event at Sea Island where he set the tournament scoring record at 29-under par. However, recent struggles with wedge proximity and short-game efficiency could complicate his week at PGA West. If Åberg finds an early rhythm and enters attack mode, he possesses the talent to threaten Scheffler.

The Unique Three-Course Format Creates Unpredictable Opportunities

Course	Designer	Challenge Focus
Pete Dye Stadium Course	Pete Dye	Final round destination, water hazards
Nicklaus Tournament Course	Jack Nicklaus	Accuracy-driven, strategic routing
La Quinta Country Club	Norman/TPC Design	Elevation changes, sandy terrain

The American Express remains the only PGA Tour event featuring three different courses for the opening three rounds. Players rotate courses, creating unpredictability since each golfer faces different conditions and challenges daily. After 54 holes, the top competitors advance to the Pete Dye Stadium Course for Sunday’s final round. This format rewards consistency and adaptability, two Scheffler specialties that likely widen his edge over the field.

“Scheffler’s ball control is unmatched, routinely suffocating fields with relentless, pin-high iron play. While the birdie-fest nature of this event can invite challengers, if Scheffler is merely slightly above-average on the greens, he’ll be lifting another trophy on Sunday evening.”

— Golf Digest Power Rankings, 2026 American Express Analysis

Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay, and Dark Horse Threats Target Upset

Russell Henley brings remarkable consistency to La Quinta, posting nine straight solid finishes across recent tournaments. His T-19 at the Sony Open marked his worst result in nine starts, showcasing his elite reliability. Henley ranks top five in driving accuracy, approach shots, and around-the-green performance. PGA West’s shorter, accuracy-driven setup plays directly to his strengths, making him a calculator’s pick for a strong finish.

Patrick Cantlay, aka “Mr. American Express,” has dominated this event historically with +47.6 strokes gained total since 2019, by far the field’s best mark at PGA West. Cantlay thrives on Pete Dye designs and ranks second in the field in strokes gained on those courses over five years. Meanwhile, Sepp Straka, the defending champion, knows this layout intimately after his dominant 25-under finish last January, making him dangerous if early rounds go smoothly.

What Happens if Scheffler Falters? Will Weather or Course Difficulty Create Drama?

While Scheffler dominates the conversation, the loaded field featuring Sam Burns, Robert MacIntyre, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Harry Hall presents legitimate upset potential. Fitzpatrick quietly turned his season around under new coach Mark Blackburn, capping upward momentum with a DP World Tour Championship victory in November. MacIntyre enters off a gritty T-4 at the Sony Open plus weekend rounds of 63 and 67 that showcased scoring potential.

The American Express averages 25-under par as the winning score over the past decade, creating a glorified putting contest that levels competition. Harry Hall, the PGA Tour’s leader in putting average and birdie conversion last season, enters a T-6 Sony Open finish with strokes gained in every category. Could this elite putting field finally derail Scheffler’s machine, or will the world number one’s unmatched iron play prove too dominant?

Sources

• Golf Channel: American Express 2026 odds, favorites, and betting analysis
• Golfweek/USA Today: Live leaderboard updates and first-round action coverage
• Golf Digest: American Express 2026 power rankings and player analysis