2022 The American Express Betting Card Preview

Jan 18, 2022

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The PGA Tour heads east from Hawaii to California for this week's The American Express at PGA West. This event changes its name like I change my underwear, so if you're looking at past events, this could be the Desert Classic, CareerBuilder Challenge or the Bob Hope Classic.

This year's The American Express is back to a three-course rotation. That includes a pro-am element and a 54-hole cut after each golfer plays a round on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, La Quinta Country Club and The Stadium Course, a Pete Dye design, which is a fine place to start if you're looking for corollary courses this week. A look at past leaderboards will once again show the winner will need to go low. The only time this event's winner failed to break 20-under par was Charley Hoffman back in 2007. All cut-makers will play Sunday's round on The Stadium Course.

Past Winners at The American Express

2021: Si Woo Kim (-23)
2020: Andrew Landry (-26)
2019: Adam Long (-26)
2018: Jon Rahm (-22)
2017: Hudson Swafford (-20)
2016: Jason Dufner (-25)

Corollary Course

Harbour Town
TPC Sawgrass
TPC River Highlands
TPC San Antonio

Handicapping early-season events when we have less relevant form data than we do in the spring and summer is a bit more of a feel thing than I'd like it to be. I'd prefer to lean on as much data as possible, but we're all in the same boat so let's work with what we have. For more course-specific data and event trends, please check out Ron Klos's tournament preview. It's the most comprehensive preview you'll find anywhere.

I've decided to change the format this year. There are so many ways to bet on this beautiful game, and I want to touch on all of them. Picking outright winners is fun, but must be done responsibly. Unit sizing is key, and I've shared my approach with our subscribers in the Discord chat. In this space, I want to touch on the players I'm targeting this week and share my opinion on the best way to bet them at this event.

Please take advantage of the Discord feature and community. It's the best way to get up-to-the-minute lines and advice. If you need help getting started, please reach out. That's where my full card will be posted, along with any live in-tournament bets.

Betting markets are fluid, but I'll note the best number available at the time of this writing.

*Betting lines accurate at the time of publication.