The American Express has attracted a strong field of the world's best players to La Quinta Country Club with the PGA Tour event set to be ultra competitive in California.
Sepp Straka is back to defend his title after a one-stroke victory over Justin Thomas in 2025.
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.
These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.
Ludvig Aberg
Ludvig Aberg has been performing well on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour in recent months, placing T9 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T7 at the BMW Championship, T21 at the Tour Championship, T20 at the BMW PGA Championship, T23 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and T3 at the DP World Tour Championship.
Other noteworthy results achieved by Aberg last season include a T5 at the Sentry, a victory at the Genesis Invitational, a T22 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a 7th at the Masters, a T16 at the Memorial Tournament, a T13 at the RBC Canadian Open, a T8 at the Genesis Scottish Open and a T23 at the Open Championship.
The Swede will make his debut at the American Express this weekend.
Aberg comes into this event in great shape and can pocket the winner's cheque at La Quinta Country Club this weekend.
Sam Burns
Sam Burns has been in solid form on the PGA Tour in his last four starts, placing T4 at the BMW Championship, T7 at the Tour Championship, T13 at the Procore Championship and T11 at the Hero World Challenge.
Other notable results achieved by Burns last year include a T8 at the Sentry, a T13 at the RBC Heritage, a T5 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a T19 at the PGA Championship, a T12 at the Memorial Tournament, a 2nd at the RBC Canadian Open, a T7 at the U.S. Open and a T17 at the Travelers Championship.
The five-time PGA Tour winner finished T29 at the American Express in 2025.
Burns has been showing signs that he is ready to add another trophy to his cabinet.
Robert MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre has been in excellent form on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour lately, winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and placing T9 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, T8 at the DP World Tour Championship, 12th at the Hero World Challenge and T4 at the Sony Open in Hawaii last weekend.
Other prominent performances achieved by MacIntyre in 2025 include a T15 at the Sentry, a T17 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, a T6 at the WM Phoenix Open, a T11 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a 9th at the Players Championship, a T9 at the Porsche Singapore Classic, a T6 at the Charles Schwab Memorial, a T20 at the Memorial Tournament, a 2nd at the U.S. Open, a T17 at the Travelers Championship, a T7 at the Open Championship, a 2nd at the BMW Championship and a T17 at the Tour Championship.
The world's seventh-ranked golfer missed the cut at the 2024 American Express on debut.
MacIntyre is holding form since his last win and will be challenging for the title in California come Sunday.
Alex Noren
Alex Noren has been in outstanding form on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour in recent outings, winning the Betfred British Masters and the BMW PGA Championship in three starts, and placing T27 at the Baycurrent Classic, MC at the Bank of Utah Championship, T17 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, T16 at the DP World Tour Championship and 2nd at the Hero World Challenge.
Additional highlights achieved by Noren last season include a T17 at the PGA Championship, a T7 at the 3M Open and a T3 at the Wyndham Championship.
The 12-time DP World Tour winner has made four appearances at the American Express, finishing T14 in 2019, T40 in 2021, MC in 2022 and T25 in 2024.
Noren has been in contention to win recently and could upstage the others at La Quinta Country Club this weekend.