The American Express Tournament Kicks Off Tomorrow at PGA West with Renovated Stadium Course

The American Express golf tournament is set to begin tomorrow at PGA West in La Quinta, with some of the best golfers in the world vying for a share of the more than $1 million prize pool. The tournament will be held over the next four days, with action taking place on three courses: the La Quinta Country Club, the Nicholas Tournament Course, and the Stadium Course at PGA West.

Under sunny skies and a mild breeze, players such as Justin Thomas and Tony Finau met with the media today to discuss their preparations for the event. Both players, who have participated in this tournament for several years, commented on the significant changes made to the Stadium Course. The course underwent renovations over the summer, which were completed in the fall, and both Thomas and Finau noted the increased difficulty.

“The greens have some funky slopes, and they've altered some greens more than others,” said Finau. “There’s a lot of subtle movement, which will make putting a challenge. The course is more gettable, but it requires more strategy than before.”

Thomas, who has played the course for years, added, “The greens are bigger now and have more slope, and since they’re new, they’ll be extremely firm. The course presents a different challenge compared to years past, and you’ll definitely see some players questioning their putts.”

The tournament tees off tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. on all three courses, and NBC Palm Springs will provide coverage throughout the event, leading up to the championship round on Sunday. Tim O’Brien will be joined by Caitlin Kelly and golf expert Judd Spicer for all the action, offering insight and analysis from one of the biggest golfing events in the Coachella Valley.