La Quinta, CA

This week’s PGA tour stop is played on three desert courses: The Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta CC, and the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Players play all three before the final round on the Stadium Course. This event has the reputation of being a “birdie-fest” as the winning score is generally between 22 and 26 under par.

Who should win? – Jon Rahm 6/1

He won two weeks ago at the TOC in Hawaii over a fading Collin Morikawa and posted another two wins – albeit on the Euro Tour – over his last five. He won here back in ’18 and had another top ten a year later.

Who could win? – Patrick Cantlay 10/1, Will Zalatoris 20/1, Si Woo Kim 33/1, Scottie Scheffler 10/1

Cantlay has a history of strong finishes at this event but has yet to win. Kim – last weeks Tour winner – won here in ’21 and a top-ten in last years edition. Zalatoris is coming back from injury but looked good at the TOC and finished only four strokes behind Hudson Swafford in ’22. Scheffler has not fared that well in his two starts at the American Express – T25 and MC – but he plays with a fearless approach and when he is on, can win on any course in any condition..

Longershots to consider – Adam Hadwin 60/1

Hadwin had consecutive top-3 finishes here in ’18 and ’19 and is due to contend soon. Why not here?

Who will win? – Jon Rahm

I’m not going too far out on a limb with this pick. If Rahm is comfortable and in form, he will be tough to beat.

*odds courtesy of bet365.com