2026 The American Express Picks and Predictions: Targeting Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley at PGA West

The PGA Tour heads to the California desert this week for The American Express, one of the most unique stops on the early season schedule. Played across multiple courses at PGA West, the tournament is known for low scores, aggressive pin hunting, and volatile leaderboards that reward players willing to stay patient across four rounds. With a pro am format and historically soft conditions, this event often turns into a birdie fest rather than a survival test.

The biggest storyline entering the week is the return of Scottie Scheffler, who is making his first start of the season and immediately sits as a heavy favorite at +320. That number reflects both his dominance over the past two seasons and the relative lack of elite depth in this field. The next closest challenger on the board is Ben Griffin at +2200, highlighting just how wide the gap is between Scheffler and the rest of the contenders.

Last week’s Sony Open winner Chris Gotterup will not be in the field, removing one of the hottest players on Tour from the equation. That opens the door for proven ball strikers and desert specialists to make a run, particularly those with experience navigating PGA West’s rotation of courses. With scoring expected to be extremely low, consistency and approach play will once again decide who separates from the pack.

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2026 American Express Odds

2026 American Express Date, Time, and Where to Watch

• Date: Thursday, January 22th - Sunday, January 26th, 2026
• Time: 11:30 AM ET
• Where to Watch: Golf Channel, ESPN+

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2026 American Express Predictions

Scottie Scheffler (+320) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook

Scheffler enters as the clear favorite, and it is easy to see why. His tee to green game remains the best in the world, and PGA West sets up perfectly for his ability to generate scoring chances in bulk. Even with this being his first start of the year, Scheffler has shown repeatedly that rust is rarely an issue. At +320, the price is short, but in a field without many elite names, the number reflects his realistic win equity rather than hype.

Russell Henley (+2500) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook

Russell Henley sits third on the odds board and represents a strong rebound candidate after a disappointing showing in Hawaii. Henley has historically thrived on courses that reward precise iron play, and his track record at PGA West supports that profile. If his putter cooperates, he has the ball striking consistency needed to stay in contention across all four rounds.

Harry Hall (+4000) Check out the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook

Harry Hall is one of the more intriguing longshots this week. He played exceptional golf through the first three rounds at the Sony Open before unraveling on Sunday, a collapse that likely inflates his price here. Hall has shown he can score in bunches, and if he cleans up the closing stretch issues, he has the ceiling to contend in a low scoring environment, especially with a strong putter.

Patrick Cantlay (+3500) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook

Patrick Cantlay rounds out the group as a player with proven success at PGA West. Cantlay has a strong history in desert events and tends to elevate his play on courses that reward controlled aggression. At +3500, he offers value relative to his course history and long term performance level, especially if conditions favor experienced contenders over first time visitors.

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