Cover Story: The American Express

PGA TOUR

The Coachella Valley’s Only PGA TOUR Event Returns to La Quinta January 16 - 22

The 64th edition of The American Express™, featuring a record $8 million purse in 2023, will showcase 156 professional golfers and 156 amateurs playing at PGA WEST’s Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club from Jan. 16-22.

The American Express is the first PGA TOUR regular season event in the continental U.S. each year and kicks off the TOUR’s West Coast swing.

The player field for The American Express began to take shape in early December when the tournament announced playing commitments from a fantastic foursome in reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Southern California natives Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, and Tony Finau. Together, the four American teammates from September’s victorious Presidents Cup squad are ranked among the top 15 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Scheffler and Cantlay are the PGA TOUR’s past two Players of the Year. Scheffler, the PGA TOUR’s 2021-22 Player of the Year, won his first four PGA TOUR titles in a six-tournament stretch from February to April that led to his ascent to the world’s No. 1 ranking. Scheffler will make his fourth consecutive start in The American Express, since graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour as its 2019 Player of the Year.

The American Express has become a leading entertainment staple, combining golf and music, in the Coachella Valley. The tournament’s Concert Series returns for its sixth year (after debuting in 2017) and will feature a pair of three-time GRAMMY® Award winners with iconic Southern California native Gwen Stefani and singer/songwriter Darius Rucker on the PGA WEST Stadium Course driving range.

Stefani, born and raised in Anaheim; a singer songwriter and charismatic frontwoman of No Doubt, will open The American Express’ Concert Series after the conclusion of second-round play on Friday, Jan. 20. Rucker, the former lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish who has re-invented himself into a successful Country artist, will take the stage after the tournament’s third round on Saturday, January 21.

Stefani has achieved global success as a songwriter, performer, charismatic frontwoman of No Doubt and as a multi-platinum solo artist. Rucker, a golf fanatic from Charleston, S.C., first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY® Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.

Three daily ticket options for The American Express – Champions Club, the new Premium Pass and grounds admission – are on sale at the tournament’s website, TheAMEXgolf.com. American Express Card Members receive a 20% discount on any online ticket order.

STEFANI

RUCKER

The daily Champions Club ticket allows spectators to experience The American Express in the grandest fashion. Ticket holders receive a preferred parking pass and access to the Champions Club – a private, climatecontrolled venue on the 18th green of PGA WEST’s Stadium Course which offers a hosted breakfast and lunch, snacks and a full bar all day. Champions Club ticket holders are welcomed to access an upgraded VIP viewing area with a complimentary full bar during each concert.

Daily Premium Pass tickets are a new tournament offering and provide access to the grounds, public fan venues at PGA WEST and the brand new, exclusive Club 18 venue, situated behind the 18th green of the Stadium Course and including lunch, beer and wine.

The American Express also continues to be one of the desert region’s most charitable sporting events, giving back to its community. In November, The American Express announced a $1 million charitable donation from the proceeds of the 2022 PGA TOUR tournament to 37 local Coachella Valley organizations, bringing the event’s all-time donation to more than $64 million since its inception in 1960 as the Palm Springs Golf Classic.