The American Express stands out on the PGA Tour: it is the only tournament that takes place on three golf courses.
The tournament is played at the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and the La Quinta Country Club. Golfers play a round on each of the three courses during the first three rounds, then after the 54-hole cut, the final round takes place on the Stadium Course.
“It’s difficult. It’s not something we’re used to,” Justin Thomas said at the pre-tournament press conference. “Although the paths are different. La Quinta is very different from the courses here, but they all have the same general idea: make lots of birdies and have an aggressive attitude. They make for interesting scores, so I approach all courses the same way, asking myself: ‘How am I going to make a birdie, and what is the best strategy to achieve it?’ »
Here is an overview of the three competition locations.
La Quinta Country Club
Opened in 1959 and designed by Lawrence Hughes, La Quinta Country Club typically offers the best scoring opportunities at the American Express, with a scoring average of 67.905 last year. Four holes at La Quinta were among the 25 easiest holes on the PGA Tour in 2024. It is the only private course in the rotation. It measures 7,060 yards with a par of 72.
Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
The Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course is ranked 19th in Golfweek’s ranking of the best public courses in California. Designed by the golfing legend and opened in 1987, this course measures 7,147 yards with a par of 72. It averaged 68.805 last season.
Pete Dye Stadium Course
The Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, opened in 1986, is ranked 10th in Golfweek’s ranking of the best public courses in California. This 7,210 yard course with a par of 72 is the only one to be used twice during tournament week. The course, which averaged 69.149 last season, could be a little more challenging this year after recent renovations, including on its refreshed greens. The goal was to return to the original plans for the greens complexes by the famous architect Dye.
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