While the world of professional golf has presented fairways of fracture in recent years, the game’s desert setting continues to offer a canvass of growth, hope, and upswing for the PGA Tour.

Returning to Greater Palm Springs for the 65^th consecutive season, The American Express tees up in La Quinta this January 18-21, 2024, with the world’s best again dueling across a tri-rota of courses. Home site PGA WEST welcomes back players to take on the Pete Dye Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament Courses, respectively, while historic La Quinta Country Club is part of the tourney rotation for a 52^nd year.

Per seasons of recent past, players making the three-day cut will vie for the victor’s circle on the Stadium Course for the event’s fourth and final round.

From concerts to cocktails, settings to superstars, here’s your 2024 scorecard for the PGA Tour’s annual stop in Greater Palm Springs.

FANS, FAIRWAYS AND TICKETING

(Image courtesy of The American Express)

The dual-site La Quinta spread presents all manner of ticket and spectating opportunities.

For early-week goers, the very walkable, classic SoCal stylings of La Quinta CC historically welcome the event’s “big names” for Thursday’s opening round, which presents an excellent opportunity to get rope-adjacent to fan favorites.

Throughout the tournament, host site PGA WEST offers a full tee sheet of drink, dine, explore, and fan activations.

Situated between the 1^st tee and 9^th green of PGA WEST’s Stadium Course, the aptly-named “Turn” proves a nexus of fan activity, featuring a full spread of food and beverage options, merchandise pop-ups, giveaways and a massive LED screen to follow the on-course AmEx action.

For a pair of prime, public-access perches to watch players conclude their Stadium Course rounds: The Michelob Ultra Beers for Birdies venue on Stadium’s iconic, “Alcatraz” island green 17^th hole offers discounted brews every time a player makes a birdie; and, on the ensuing home hole, the popular Casamigos Deck presents an open-air, lively setting to watch golfers finish rounds on the tough par-4.  

As for spectators seeking to follow the weekend’s NFL playoff Divisional Round action, fear not, the AmEx viewing venues are well-equipped with all manner of screens.

A full menu of ticketing options are available to AmEx fans, with attendees 15 years old and younger allowed free entry to the grounds when attending with a paid adult.

General admission tickets of either the daily or weekly variety present full grounds access and admission to a slew of public fan venues, while the loftier Dye Club pass includes added access to private seating on “Alcatraz.”

Guests seeking a full-on AmEx experience should tee up Champions Club ticketing, which includes private, climate-controlled seating on the Stadium’s 18^th hole, along with hosted breakfast, lunch and an all-day open bar.

SONG AND SWING

(Image courtesy of Train)

The American Express continues to expand its popularity and audience with the seventh year of the event’s annual Concert Series.

Held on the PGA WEST driving range following the conclusion of play on both Friday, January 19, and Saturday, January 20, attending either or both shows are complimentary for all ticketholders.

The marquee for 2024 features four-time Grammy-winner and two-time Country Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” Keith Urban following Friday’s second-round action, while pop-rock group Train – they of three Grammy wins – will perform following Saturday’s third round of play.

THE FIELD

(Image courtesy of The American Express)

Tunes aside, the AmEx continues to sing loudest by virtue of a premier playing field.

Returning to La Quinta for the fifth consecutive season, Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, headlines what looks to be an impressive roster of talent. With a third-place finish in 2020, followed by a tie for 25^th in ’21 and a T-11 last year, the native Texan would appear to be trending toward top honors come AmEx Sunday.

Right behind the globe’s top-ranked player, a pair of SoCal natives also return to Greater Palm Springs for a run at the crown. Los Angeles-born Patrick Cantlay, the No. 5 player in the world, is back in the desert for the fourth consecutive year and undoubtedly aiming to better his runner-up showing from 2021. Further representing the Southland, San Diego’s Xander Schauffelle will make his fourth career AmEx start, while seeking to build upon his tie for third last year.

A winner of five events the past two seasons (among six career Tour wins), Tony Finau, the 21^st-ranked player, is back in AmEx play this year, as is rising star 21-year-old star Tom Kim, thrice a Tour winner in just 44 career events.

Fresh off a comeback season, always-popular SoCal native Rickie Fowler is back at the AmEx for the fifth consecutive season, while Irishman Shane Lowry, winner of the 2019 British Open, heads to La Quinta this year for his desert debut. Jason Day's career rally (ranked No. 19 in the world) will find him back at the AmEx seeking another strong finish, and the globe's 11th-ranked player, Sam Burns, is also back in the desert, no doubt aiming to better his tie for 11th last year.

Also appearing is Michael Block, the reigning Southern California PGA Section Player of the Year who enjoyed global renown for his tie for 15^th (and remarkable hole-in-one) at last summer’s PGA Championship.

Looking for more event information, visit The American Express on our Signature Events page.