As the Tour heads to La Quinta, Calif, for The American Express 2024, PGA DFS enthusiasts are in for a unique challenge spread across three distinct courses: the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club and Nicklaus Tournament Course. All participants will tackle each course before concluding on the Stadium Course on Sunday after the cut.
PGA DFS: The American Express 2024
Course Breakdown
- La Quinta, Calif.
- Pete Dye Stadium Course: Par 72, 7,187 yards
- La Quinta Country Club: Par 72, 7,060 yards
- Nicklaus Tournament Course: Par 72, 7,159 yards
The course conditions at The American Express 2024 present golfers with distinctive challenges. The fairways, predominantly consisting of Bermuda grass, feature overseeding with Poa and Rye, ensuring a diverse playing surface. The greens mirror this composition, also being Bermuda with Poa overseed/Rye, adding an additional layer of complexity to the putting game. The courses are strategically designed, incorporating upwards of 90 bunkers per course, demanding precision in approach shots. Water hazards come into play on just under half of the holes, adding an element of risk to players’ strategies.
Regarding weather, competitors can expect minimal wind, creating favorable conditions for scoring. Additionally, a small projected storm front over the weekend may introduce an element of unpredictability.
The projected winning score for the tournament is estimated to fall between an impressive -23 to -27, emphasizing the need for golfers to capitalize on scoring opportunities and navigate the diverse challenges presented by the course.
While direct correlations in trends are limited, those playing well tend to sustain their performance at The American Express. With three easily navigable courses, a strong approach game and capitalizing on opportunities without giving back strokes become crucial. Recent champions include Jon Rahm in 2023 with an impressive -27, Hudson Swafford in 2022 at -23, Si Woo Kim in 2021 at -23 and Andrew Landry in 2020 with a score of -26.
Stats to Build Around:
- Shots Gained on Par 5s (SG Par 5)
- Shots Gained on Par 3s (SG Par 3)
- Shots Gained Putting
- Shots Gained on Approach from 150-175 (weighted lighter)
- Shots Gained on Approach from 125-150 (weighted heavier)
- Shots Gained Off the Tee (SG OTT)
- Bob Rate/Bogey Avoidance
PGA DFS Strategy
For DFS success at The American Express, target players in good form with well-rounded games. Additionally, consider contest selection, leaning towards single-entry formats and potentially higher-dollar entries to mitigate the risk of unexpected outcomes.
The American Express 2024 PGA DFS Plays
(Prices courtesy of DraftKings)
High-Tier Plays ($9,000 & Above)
- Scottie Scheffler ($11,400)
- Xander Schauffele ($10,900)
- Tony Finau ($9,300)
- Justin Thomas ($9,800)
High-Tier Fades ($9,000 & Above)
- Patrick Cantlay ($10,800)
- Sungjae Im ($10,100)
- Min Woo Lee ($9,500)
- Chris Kirk ($9,000)
- JT Poston ($9,100)
Mid-Tier Plays ($7,600-$8,900)
- Rickie Fowler ($9,200)
- Shane Lowry ($8,700)
- Akshay Bhatia ($8,200)
- Si Woo Kim ($8,600)
Mid-Tier Fades ($7,600-$8,900)
- Eric Cole ($8,800)
- Taylor Montgomery ($8,100)
- Taylor Pendrith ($7,800)
Low-Tier Plays ($7,500 & Below)
- Chesson Hadley ($7,100)
- Ryan Moore ($6,900)
- Erik van Rooyen ($7,500)
Low-Tier Fades ($7,500 & Below)
- Callum Tarren ($6,500)
- Sam Ryder ($7,200)
Check out all of our content for The American Express 2024:
- Between Bets: The American Express 2024 Outrights
- PropKings: The American Express 2024
- PGA DFS: The American Express 2024
Good luck this week! Thanks for checking out my PGA DFS picks for The American Express 2024, and be sure to check us out live every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. EST on the 19th Hole Live!
*Photo Credit: Aaron Doster – USA TODAY Sports*