The Desert Classic, formerly known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, is a professional golf tournament that has been part of the PGA Tour since 1960. It is held annually in the Coachella Valley of Southern California, with its main venue being the PGA West complex in La Quinta, California. The event is part of the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing and usually takes place in January, marking an exciting start to the year for both players and golf fans.

The tournament is unique because it historically featured a celebrity pro-am format, where professional golfers teamed up with celebrities from various fields, including sports, film, and music. This aspect added a fun and entertaining element to the event, drawing large crowds and media attention.

The Desert Classic is known for its three-course rotation format, where players compete across three different courses during the first three rounds—the Pete Dye Stadium Course, the Nicklaus Tournament Course, and La Quinta Country Club. The final round typically takes place at the Pete Dye Stadium Course, the most challenging of the three.

With a strong field of top-tier players, the Desert Classic has been a popular tournament for both fans and bettors, offering plenty of opportunities for exciting action on the PGA Tour.

The tournament also carries a substantial purse and valuable FedEx Cup points, making it an important event early in the season.

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Golf Betting Analysis and Predictions for the 2023 American Express Tournament

One of two pro-ams on the PGA Tour, The American Express is a tournament like no other. Held in California, the event will be played at three different golf courses and has a 54-hole cut. Those who make the cut participate in the final round at the PGA West (Stadium Course). The first three rounds will be played at the PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament Course) and La Quinta Country Club.

Ten of the top 20 players in the world are in the field for The American Express, including 2022 PGA Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler and Southern California natives Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. The winner of the event receives 500 FedExCup points. Let’s get closer look at the upcoming American Express tournament so you can place your bets against the PGA Tour Betting favorites.

Rahm Looking to Continue Impressive Season

It’s only January, and Jon Rahm has already earned more than half of what he made in 2021-22. The talented Spaniard won just once last year and had eight top-10 finishes, earning $5.24 million along the way. He finished T4 at The CJ Cup in South Carolina in November and won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in the first week of the New Year.

Rahm’s victory at the Tournament of Champions was especially impressive given his final-round performance. He shot 10-under to finish at 27-under with a two-stroke win over Colin Morikawa, who shot just 1-under in the final round to finish at 25-under. 

Scheffler and Cantlay Sharing World No. 1?

Rory McIlroy, who isn’t at The American Express, is the current world No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). However, there’s a chance Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay can share that distinction after this weekend. This has never happened in the history of the OWGR.

While unlikely, Cantlay would need to win the event, and Scheffler would have to finish solo eighth place for the two to share the unique distinction. McIlroy has held the No. 1 spot since winning the CJ Cup in November. Cantlay hasn’t been ranked higher than third. 

Prediction and Longshot Bet

Xander Schauffele has been a consistent force on the PGA Tour now for the past four seasons, finishing among the top five in the FedEx Cup rankings in each of those years. He hasn’t played much this season, but finished ninth at the ZOZO Championship and fourth at the Hero World Challenge. 

Schauffele was dealing with a sore back a few weeks ago, but is healthy heading into this weekend. A three-time winner last season, he finished the year with four consecutive top-10 finishes and is a good-value bet at +2000 to win the American Express.

If you’re looking for a sleeper pick, Sahith Theegala is a solid option. He’s a high-risk/high-reward player who has the same strokes gained per round ratio as Schauffele. He finished second earlier this season at the RSM Classic.

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Golf Betting Preview for 2022 The American Express Tournament

The PGA Tour returns to the mainland with the 2022 American Express and a return to the tournament’s three-course format. Tournament play begins on Thursday, January 20th, and concludes on Sunday, January 23rd. Si Woo Kim is the defending champion after a 23-under score bested Patrick Cantlay by one stroke last year.

Kim’s victory was his third PGA Tour triumph and first since his historic win at THE PLAYERS in 2017. The 26-year old Kim fired an eight-under final round, fending off a charging Cantlay who posted an 11-under on Sunday. Both are back in the field this week.

The winner of the events garners 500 FedEx Cup points and $1.368 million of the total $7.6 million purse. The pro-am portion of the golf tournament returns after not taking place last year. Each professional in the field will be grouped with amateurs for the first three rounds before the low 65 pros play the final round on Sunday at the PGA West Stadium Course. Here’s our Golf Betting analysis for the upcoming The American Express event so you can bet against the PGA Tour odds.

The Courses

Pros will play each of the three courses, PGA West (Stadium Course), La Quinta Country Club, and PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament Course), over the first three days of the event. All three locations play as a traditional par-72 at various distances. 

The Stadium Course, which will host the final round on Sunday, is known for its toughness and for years was not a part of the tournament’s rotation until it returned in 2016. A Pete Dye design, the course was inspired by Scottish links-style courses.

The Field 

The top player in the world and 2018 tournament winner Jon Rahm returns to the field. Joining Rahm is tournament host and fan-favorite Phil Mickelson. 2020-21 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Will Zalatoris makes his 2022 debut. 

Rickie Fowler will also be making his 2022 debut and first appearance in a tournament since becoming a father. Other notable players listed to participate include Tony Finau, Abraham Ancer, Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler, and Jason Day.

There are 14 past winners of the event teeing it up this week in the 156-man field.

American Express Betting Favorites

Not a surprise but the world no. 1 Rahm is the betting favorite heading into Thursday start at (+500). Rahm hasn’t played much this season after taking time off in the fall to be with his family, but the Spaniard locked up a solo second two weeks ago in Hawaii at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

Following Rahm is last year’s runner-up Cantlay at +900. Like Rahm, Cantlay used the fall to take some time off and has only played in the Sentry Tournament of Champions this season, earning a solo fourth. 

Scheffler (+1600) is next, still looking for his first PGA Tour victory. The 25-year old and Ryder Cup participant had a solid fall season with a solo fourth at Mayakoba and a T2 at the Houston Open.

Rounding out the top betting favorites are Sung-Jae Im (+1800), Talor Gooch (+2000), and Tony Finau (+2000). Rickie Fowler (+5000) and Mickelson (+10000) are a pair of other notable longshots.