Power Rankings: Top-Ranked Scottie Scheffler Isn’t the Top Pick This Week
Welcome to Power Rankings, from our partners at KeyCompete. This year’s American Express will once again sprawl across three distinct courses: the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Each course offers variety and complexity for the participants. Here’s a quick summary.
2024 American Express Course Preview
Pete Dye Stadium Course: Par 72, 7,187 yards. A masterpiece from Pete Dye known for a distinct style that features a blend of aesthetic appeal and strategic complexity. Over the years, it has undergone several modifications to keep up with the evolving dynamics of the sport while preserving its historical essence. It features smaller greens and strategically placed hazards that demand precision and tactical play, particularly in approach shots.
La Quinta Country Club: Par 72 course, 7,060 yards. A classic, traditional golf course design with a more straightforward experience. It has hosted numerous tournaments, adding a layer of prestige. Here accuracy is crucial, especially in navigating the smaller greens.
Nicklaus Tournament Course: Par 72, 7,159 yards. Architectural brilliance and a blend of aesthetic beauty and challenging play. The course has seen updates to maintain its status as a modern golf challenge while respecting its original design ethos. Like its counterparts, it emphasizes aggressive yet accurate approach shots, with a premium on strategic thinking.
KeyCompete Power Rankings for 2024 American Express
1. Xander Schauffele (+1000): Xander finished T3 here last year, and his dialed-in approach play sets him apart among this field.
2. Scottie Scheffler (+550): It’s hard to rank the No. 1 ranked player in the world anywhere but at the top, but his putter still gave him problems at the Sentry. If he keeps his SG putting positive, this week should be an easy payday.
3. Patrick Cantlay (+900): Owner of the course record at PGA West’s Pete Dye Stadium Course (61 in 2021), Cantlay’s well-rounded game should put him in prime position.
4. Sungjae Im (+1800): He’s never finished worse than 18th in five appearances. His game is a fit for shorter courses that reward accuracy off the tee and approach play.
5. Sam Burns (+3300): Inconsistent at times, Burns is still one of the better players here in terms of strokes gained. From a betting perspective, Burns feels like a value.
6. Tony Finau (+3300): He has a great history here with a solo fourth in 2021 and a close call in ’20 where only his putter held him back. Finau has one of the best approach games on tour and if the putts start falling, he’ll be dangerous.
7. Min Woo Lee (+3000): The young Australian is a newcomer to this tournament, but that should not slow him down. He won the Australian PGA Championship in November; he’s is going to be a player to watch in 2024.
8. Justin Thomas (+2200): Off a strange year in 2023 after experimenting with a new diet and working through some issues with his driver, Thomas is back to eating dairy and gluten, and back to playing great golf. On a run of three straight top fives.
9. Eric Cole (+3300): Made his American Express debut last year, a T36, but somewhere around October the 35-year-old started to figure it out and has since strung together five straight top 20s, including three top threes.
10. Chris Kirk (+4500): Kirk started 2024 with a bang, winning at the Sentry and cashing another top-20 check last week at the Sony. His approach game looks dialed in. T3 here last year.
Other Notable Players
Daniel Berger will be making his PGA return after a back injury has sidelined him since 2022.