The PGA Tour returns to Southern California this week, and the new condensed, hyper-competitive nature of the tour has delivered an influx of star power to PGA West. While The American Express has produced its share of longshot winners in recent years, the loaded 2026 field may flip that narrative in the desert.
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So who are the names to watch? Which favorites are positioned to strike early? And are there any longshots capable of stealing a win at PGA West? Here are the power rankings for the 2026 American Express.
10. Harry Hall 
Mike Mulholland
With an average winning score of 25-under over the past decade, The American Express often turns into a glorified putting contest, which plays directly into Harry Hall’s hands. Hall led the PGA Tour in putting average and Birdie or Better conversion during the 2025 season.
Confidence is at an all-time high for the Englishman after a T-6 at the Sony Open, where he gained strokes in every category and posted four rounds under par.
9. Ludvig Åberg
The talent is undeniable, but PGA West isn’t an ideal fit for Åberg. Recent struggles with wedge proximity and short-game efficiency make this a challenging setup for the Swede.
Still, if he finds an early rhythm and flips into attack mode, Åberg has shown he can go very low. His first PGA Tour win came at Sea Island, where he set the tournament scoring record at 29-under.
8. Sepp Straka
On shorter layouts, as we have at this week’s three-course rotation, Straka deserves serious consideration. He ranks third in the field in ball-striking on shorter courses.
Wins at Philly Cricket Club and the 2025 American Express highlight his ability to pile up birdies when course design emphasizes his strengths.
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7. Sam Burns
Burns has been in the mix late on Sunday in two of the past three editions here, only to be undone by a timely miss off the tee. Even so, he’s been excellent at PGA West, ranking fourth in strokes gained/total at this event since 2020.
He’s also an underrated player from 100–150 yards, where nearly one-third of approach shots will come this week, ranking second in proximity from that range over his past 36 rounds. Keep an eye out for Burns if he can start fast.
6. Robert MacIntyre 
David Cannon
MacIntyre enters off a gritty T-4 at the Sony Open, where weekend rounds of 63 and 67 launched him up the leader board. He later noted that lapses in focus over 72 holes may have cost him an even better result.
Three DP World Tour starts this offseason have produced three top-nine finishes, including a win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, reinforcing his growing confidence and comfort in contention.
5. Ben Griffin
Griffin surged late at Waialae, birdieing three of his final four holes to secure yet another top-20 finish. He’s now done so in seven of his last eight PGA Tour starts, making him one of the most reliable performers on tour.
The wider setup off the tee at PGA West should suit his eye, and he remains elite with his irons and inside 15 feet on the greens. He’s finished T-7 and T-9 in his past two starts at The American Express.
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4. Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick quietly turned his season around in the latter half of 2025 under the guidance of coach Mark Blackburn. His ball-striking has improved dramatically, and his elite short game should be a major advantage this week.
A win at the DP World Tour Championship in November capped several months of upward momentum. It’s only a matter of time before he wins again on the PGA Tour as Fitzpatrick appears ready to strike at any moment.
3. Patrick Cantlay 
Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos
Mr. American Express. Cantlay has been the clear horse for the course at PGA West, gaining a staggering +47.6 strokes gained total here since 2019, by far the best in this field.
He thrives on Pete Dye designs, ranking second in the field in strokes gained/tee to green on Dye courses over the past five years. He’s come close before, and another serious run feels inevitable.
2. Russell Henley
The Henley train continues to roll. His T-19 at the Sony Open marked his worst finish in nine starts, a remarkable stretch of consistency.
Despite a modest history at this event, PGA West’s shorter, accuracy-driven setup aligns perfectly with his skill set. Henley ranks top five in driving accuracy, approach and around-the-green performance, three of the strongest indicators of success here.
1. Scottie Scheffler
There’s no need for a hot take at the top. The world’s best player makes his season debut in the desert, and it would be disingenuous to rank anyone else first.
Scheffler’s ball control is unmatched, routinely suffocating fields with relentless, pin-high iron play. While the birdie-fest nature of this event can invite challengers, if Scheffler is merely slightly above-average on the greens, he’ll be lifting another trophy on Sunday evening.
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Joe Idone is a Read The Line contributor and host of the Preferred Lines podcast.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
