Defending champion Nick Dunlap, who won the 2024 American Express as a PGA Tour ... Other top-25 players include No. 7 Wyndham Clark, No. 12 Patrick Cantlay and No. 16 Billy Horschel.

Here are five storylines to keep an eye on when the tournament starts Thursday:

The American Express field features eight of the world’s top 25-ranked golfers but will miss out on Nos. 1 and 2 after each withdrew.

The American Express concluded with its finale on Sunday, January 19, in La Quinta. It was a regular PGA Tour event featuring a full-sized field.

Clark posted a Strokes Gained: Off the Tee average of 0.420 (18th) last season, while his average driving distance of 314.0 yards ranked eighth on TOUR. In terms of Strokes Gained: Approach last ...

With the cut set at 9-under par, Wyndham Clark missed the cut at the American Express after totalling five under par over 54 holes. The PGA Tour star opened his tournament with a one-under par 71 ...

For the third time in his PGA Tour career, Sepp Straka hoisted a trophy at tournament's end. Converting a four-stroke lead at the 54-hole mark into a victory at the 2025 American Express, Straka fended off a crowded chasing pack headlined by Justin Thomas.

Sepp Straka has a four-stroke lead after the third round of the American Express. Straka shot a 64 at the La Quinta Country Club to put him over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day, and Justin Lower, who are all tied in second at 19-under.

In 2022, Parke Brown – Blade’s father – was given a somber diagnosis of bone cancer that carried with it a life expectancy of only a few months. After undergoing more test, doctors instead determined Parke had Hairy Cell Leukemia—a rare form of the disease that can’t be cured but is treatable with chemotherapy and frequent blood monitoring.

Blades Brown was the story of the American Express, with the 17-year-old making birdies and thrilling galleries in his pro debut.

There's plenty of star power near the top of the leaderboard at the American Express through 54 holes — Jason Day (19 under), Patrick Cantlay (18 under), Justin Thomas (17 under), just to name a few — but there are also nearly a dozen notable names who are packing their bags early after missing the cut on Saturday afternoon.

With 18 holes remaining at the 2025 American Express in the California desert, Sepp Straka owns the lead at 23 under. He's four shots clear of Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower at 19 under. There were several PGA Tour stars who missed the cut Saturday afternoon including Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau and Tom Kim.