After two weeks in Hawaii, The PGA Tour returns to dry land for the first time this year with a dispute of American Express on Thursday in La QuintaCalifornia. It was also the first of several events on the circuit where multiple fields, in this case three, were used.
The players They will play a round on the Pete Dye Stadium Course and the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA Westas well as yoursa round at La Quinta Country Cluball of them par 72 course. The Pete Dye Stadium Course will host the final round after a 54-hole cut for the first 65 and those tied.
« Even though the fields are different… they all have the same general idea, that you have to make a lot of birdies and be aggressive“, said Justin Thomas on Tuesday. “They are very scoring, so I bring the same mentality to all fields.” «This is a week of attack, not defense».
Nick Dunlap he had to learn three courses in his quick play of The American Express as a rookie last year. Thanks to the third round of 60 at La Quinta Country Club, Dunlap he became the first rookie to win on the circuit since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
A member of the University of Alabama golf team at the time, Dunlap soon turned professional, winning a second tournament in July and receiving the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award..
Dunlap21 years old, is back in town to defend his title and still getting used to the fast paced life of the tour.
“I would say my life is a bit fasterand in a good way,” Dunlap said. “Like I said, I’m here, living my dream, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, but not everything happens easily or smoothly. I can say that there are some bumps in the road that you have to overcome.
As Thomas said, birdies are the name of the game at the tournament formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. The winning score was no worse than 20-under 268 since the tournament abandoned its previous five-round format after 2011.. Dunlap’s 29-under 259 last year set the tournament’s 72-hole scoring record.
Wyndham Clark (No. 7) is one of eight players in the field ranked in the top 25 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Winner last week at the Sony Open in Hawaiithe Canadian Nick Taylor is also on the field. Taylor He now has five wins on the PGA Tourthree of them in the last three years through the playoffs.
Tony Finauwho had to silence rumors about LIV Golf for the second season in a row, He will play this week despite a knee problem that is less than 100%. Finau did not win any tournaments in 2024 after winning four trophies in 2022-23.
“There’s always an annoying injury, it seems, for everybody,” Finau said. “SSince this injury, I feel very good. “I had a good start, I think, at The Sentry with how my body felt and how my game felt, and I’m hoping to build on that this week.”
This week It will also mark the professional debut of 17-year-old Blades Brown. Last season, as a rookie, he made the cut at the Myrtle Beach Classic and finished T26.
The promising youngster decided to turn pro this offseason instead of pursuing a college golf scholarship.
«It will be a process, and in processes there are hills and valleys» said Brown. “AND I am fortunate to have an incredible team supporting meand I am excited to walk this path with them. “What’s meant to be, will be.”
Source: La Verdad
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