LA QUINTA, Calif. – Defending champion Jon Rahm is not in the field this week at the 2024 American Express, and a few other familiar names from the tournament’s past might not be playing PGA West either.
But the field of 156 – the biggest so far on the PGA Tour in 2024 – for the 65th annual PGA Tour event in the Coachella Valley is still packed with some of the best golfers in the world. They are joined by golfers with strong resumes who might not be top-10 players at the moment, but certainly have the pedigree to win in the desert or anywhere else.
The tournament is contested on three courses: Pete Dye Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club.
The total purse is up from $8 million to $8.4 million with first-place bumping from $1.444 million to $1.512 million.
Here’s a look at some of the top players to watch when play begins Thursday: