A return stateside has the PGA Tour getting the West Coast swing of the season underway in La Quinta, Calif. with the playing of The American Express. The name may have changed with a new title sponsor, but the pro-am and three-course format from the old Desert Classic days remain the same. Playing alongside a Rolex Series event on the Euro Tour and in between quality stops on the PGA circuit, the field is watered down. Phil Mickelson, in conjunction with his Foundation, is tournament host and will make his season debut. Rickie Fowler opened as the betting favorite at online sportsbooks, but odds suggest a wide-open field that leads to a number of intriguing tournament matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
The American Express Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Paul Casey -121 vs. Tony Finau -109
Cameron Tringale -102 vs. Adam Long -128
Denny McCarthy -105 vs. Daniel Berger -125
Talor Gooch -106 vs. Brian Stuard -124
Bud Cauley -131 vs. Nate Lashley +101
Scottie Scheffler -135 vs. Francesco Molinari +105
Brendon Todd +118 vs. JT Poston -148
Harris English -113 vs. Lucas Glover -117
Scott Piercy -121 vs. Danny Lee -109
Kevin Na +118 vs. Andrew Putnam -148
Brendan Steele +111 vs. Aaron Wise -141
Rory Sabbatini -132 vs. Zach Johnson +102
Sungjae Im -131 vs. Paul Casey +101
Scottie Scheffler -111 vs. Jason Kokrak -119
Sebastian Munoz -115 vs. Chez Reavie -115
Francesco Molinari +111 vs. Jason Kokrak -141
Kevin Kisner +116 vs. Charles Howell III -146
Matthew Wolff +122 vs. Abraham Ancer -153
Alex Noren -136 vs. Ryan Moore +106
Phil Mickelson +128 vs. Brian Harman -161
Byeong-Hun An +105 vs. Charles Howell III -135
Billy Horschel -159 vs. Cameron Champ +127
Kevin Kisner -106 vs. Byeong-Hun An -124
Sungjae Im -136 vs. Tony Finau +106
Need to Know
The entire field will play the first three rounds across three different courses with the cut coming after 54 holes. The Stadium Course at PGA West, Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club are the three involved and they all play relatively short by Tour standards. Players that make the cut will play Sunday on the Stadium Course, which is considered the most difficult of the three. It plays around 7,100 yards at par-72 with five scoreable par 4s. Also, keep in mind that with a pro-am format come easier pin placements and generous rough. Each venue is a stock par 72 and considered to be among the easiest on Tour, and that’s been reflected in recent scores. I had a winning week on my matchups going 3-2 last week, which was far better than the previous event, and I’ll look to keep it rolling in the California desert.
The American Express Matchup Picks
Tony Finau -109 vs. Paul Casey
Back close to him and with no outside stressers affecting his play I expect Finau to have a big week. He got greased up for this event with a top-5 in Hong Kong last week, returning to the form that has lifted him near the top of the leaderboard so many times, and he should overtake matchup partner Casey, who hasn’t played in this tournament since a T58 in 2017.
Phil Mickelson +128 vs. Brian Harman
I’ve always been a big fan of Mickelson and he helped save this tournament a few years ago when it was in limbo without a title sponsor. That doesn’t mean squat when it comes time to playing, but this is an event Lefty has thrived in and it’s in his backyard. He makes a point to play this one and has two top-3s since 2016 along with a pair of victories. Last year wasn’t his best and time is getting short, but Lefty has something remaining in the tank and this might be his best chance all season to shoot to the top.
Scottie Scheffler -111 vs. Jason Kokrak
He hasn’t played competitively in a few months and he’s making his debut here, but Scheffler closed the fall on a run of solid form to at least consider him in this matchup. He skipped the Hawai’i swing due to the unpredictable weather patterns and to save his sanity. He’s rested and ready to attack the pins this week after going 7 for 7 with three top 10’s to start the season, including a T5 last time out at the RSM Classic.
Byeong-Hun An +105 vs. Charles Howell III
Despite what the odds say this is a tough matchup pick. Both are playing well with Howell taking a T12 in tough conditions last week. And he hasn’t missed a cut in 11 straight starts in the California desert. An is an interesting choice and his aggressive style could be a huge benefit on these easy layouts. He also finished the fall in style with a T6 at the CJ Cup, T8 at the ZOZO Championship and T14 at WGC-HSBC Champions.
Brendan Steele +111 vs. Aaron Wise
Last week’s playoff loss in Hawai’i was a bummer, but it might have saved the season for Steele, and his career. In a slump for a while now and on the verge of losing his Tour card, the result restored a sense that he can still play the game at a high level. A native Californian, Steele is using the upcoming swing to get his game back. “When you’re playing well you want to play,” he said.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu. The American Express is scheduled for January 16-19, 2020, and can be seen on Golf Channel.
