The American Express is a unique tournament, as it features a top-65 and ties cut following the third round and not the second. There are 156 golfers competing and each player will play one round on each of the Pete Dye Stadium Course (par 72, 7,210 yards, POA overseed greens), the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course (par 72, 7,147 yards, POA overseed greens), and La Quinta Country Club (par 72, 7,060 yards, POA trivialis/ryegrass overseed greens). Then, the cut will take place and the players who advance will play their final round at the Dye Stadium Course, making this the host venue of the American Express.
Below, I have featured a cut parlay to consider for the American Express.
American Express Cut Parlay
- Alex Smalley to make the cut (-155)
- Seamus Power to make the cut (-120)
- Sam Ryder to make the cut (+135)
Alex Smalley to make the cut
Very few have a better track record at the American Express than Smalley. The veteran has never finished worse than T-25 at this event in four starts and he just finished 11th at last year’s American Express. Smalley has shot 68 or better in 10 of his 16 rounds at this tournament and his 19.8 average finish at the American Express ranks third among the players in this field that have competed at this event more than once. Smalley has only missed one cut in his last five entering this week with two top-five finishes during this stretch and he should be more favored than -155 to make the cut this week.
Seamus Power to make the cut
Power arrives in La Quinta riding a nine-made cut streak and he hasn’t finished worse than T-31 in four straight starts. The Irishman’s irons have been his backbone, ranking fourth in SG APP when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds and he has been excellent at the American Express. At this multi-course tournament, Power has made 3-of-4 cuts and all three of those finishes have come inside the top-25.
Sam Ryder to make the cut
Ryder finished last season making seven of his final 10 cuts with three top-30 finishes during this run. Ryder gained strokes on approach and with his putter his last time out, and the veteran has been very reliable at the American Express in the past, missing only one cut in eight attempts at this event. This time around, Ryder is facing arguably the strongest field the American Express has ever seen, but given his prowess for this tournament and his form, Ryder making the cut this week is still very likely.
