Following a two week stay in Hawai’i, the PGA Tour returns to the mainland for the first time in 2021 with The American Express in La Quinta, Calif. opening a five-tournament stretch in California and Arizona. This year’s edition will have a different look with only two courses in play instead of the usual three and the cut moving to 36 holes instead of the typical 54. Also, the pro-am portion of the tournament has been shelved due to COVID concerns. Phil Mickelson makes his 2021 debut serving as tournament host in conjunction with his foundation for the second straight year. Other notables include Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and betting favorite Patrick Cantlay. Andrew Landry looks to become the first repeat champion since Johnny Miller in the mid-1970s. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Odds to Win The American Express at BookMaker.eu
Patrick Cantlay +1450
Patrick Reed +1750
Scottie Scheffler +1985
Sungjae Im +2052
Tony Finau +2177
Brooks Koepka +2552
Abraham Ancer +2854
Matthew Wolff +2915
Russell Henley +3656
Erik Van Rooyen +3856
Sam Burns +4050
Kevin Na +4300
Rickie Fowler +4550
Cameron Champ +4550
Si Woo Kim +5000
Brian Harman +5050
Lanto Griffin +5500
Paul Casey +5550
Talor Gooch +5550
Zach Johnson +6000
Charles Howell III +6000
Aaron Wise +6050
Patton Kizzire +6250
Sepp Straka +6250
Charley Hoffman +6350
Wyndham Clark +6550
Cameron Davis +6550
Cameron Tringale +7050
Adam Long +7250
Keegan Bradley +7550
Brendan Steele +7550
J.T. Poston +7550
Emiliano Grillo +7550
Lucas Glover +8000
Joel Dahmen +8000
Matt Jones +8050
Adam Hadwin +8250
Patrick Rodgers +8550
Luke List +8550
Odds Analysis
Abraham Ancer +2854
Missing the cut at last week’s Sony Open likely affected the odds, which is actually a good thing for bettors looking for a value pick. Ancer has gained nearly a stroke on average over the field in his career on the Stadium Course with his short game and superb ball striking. And with (hopefully) on more round on the track that could be the difference. Ancer finished as the lone runner-up last year with a closing 63 that tied for the round of the day. The conditions in Hawai’i seemed to affect his game and he shouldn’t have that problem this week.
Adam Hadwin +8250
Hadwin has done everything but win this tournament giving me a level of comfort to throw down on him for the outright win despite recent results that saw him drop in the rankings. He posted two runner-up finishes and a T3 in his last three starts here, though he missed last year’s edition for the birth of his child. You have to respect the man for having his priorities in the right place. Toss in a T6 from 2016 and there are few if any players who have enjoyed the kind of success Hadwin has. He clearly enjoys this event and is worth the price.
Brooks Koepka +2552
A year dealing with injuries is behind him and Koepka looks to start the year with a successful outing. He showed signs of getting things together with a pair of top-10s at the end of last year. And with time to fully recover from the knee ailments that affected his stance and swing I expect bigger things from him. His price is short and Koepka is inviting on alternate markets, but he’s here to win and not just chisel off the rust, which is why he’s a good investment.
Andrew Landry +16550
Can lightning strike twice? There hasn’t been a repeat at The American Express since the 1970s, so history isn’t on his side. But Landry showed he can handle the pressure in last year’s win and also took Jon Rahm to a playoff before succumbing in 2018. It’s hard to imagine a player with such a strong history being offered at such a high price. He clearly enjoys the atmosphere and just a few starts ago he was T4 at the RSM Classic, so he’s worth dropping a few bucks on.
Scottie Scheffler +1985
Using this tournament as a springboard to his Rookie of the Year season, Scheffler has fond memories of the American Express. He closed with a 70 on the Stadium Course last year settling for a solo third, and with a year under his belt he should be out looking to make up for that tumble. He has three top-20s in his last four starts and needs that little extra to get over the hump. A weekend in the California desert could be the answer.
Courses: Stadium Course at PGA West; Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West
Gone from the rotation this year is the La Quinta Country Club layout, which was widely considered the easiest course. So, for the first time in tournament history fewer than three courses will be used. The field will rotate between the Stadium Course and Nicklaus Course over the first two days with the cut taking place after 36 holes. Golfers that survive the cut will play the final two rounds on the Stadium Course, which is considered the most difficult typically playing two or more strokes harder on average. It plays around 7,100 yards at par-72 with five scoreable par 4s that are less than 410 yards. There are hazards to watch out for, including heavy rough, strategically placed bunkers and water in play on seven holes.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel
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