A well-regarded PGA Tour event that draws in some very big names, the American Express (also known as the Desert Classic) has become one of the most notable golf tournaments in California.
For sports bettors, it’s a big opportunity to bet on the PGA right here in your home state.
Below see the latest American Express PGA odds as posted at legal online sportsbooks plus some recent trends in PGA golf betting.
American Express odds
Below check the latest Desert Classic betting odds. If you see odds that you like, click on them to go directly to that sportsbook. There, you can start an account and claim your welcome bonus offer.
Best golf bets for The American Express
Golf is its own beast in the world of betting. It’s unlike the other major sports, which all have pretty similar bet types to choose from. Golf is an individual competition and the bets reflect that in a way the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL just don’t.
That being said, the good news is the bets are still pretty easy to understand. Below we take a look at some of the most common bets you’ll come across when betting on the American Express at sportsbooks like FanDuel California or BetMGM CA online.
- Top five/10/20: PGA Tour events bring in plenty of talent — both well-known and up-and-coming — and it can be difficult to correctly choose which golfer is going to win outright. There’s great news for bettors in that department since you can bet on if a specific golfer is going to finish in the top five, the top 10, or even the top 20 of finishers. You can, of course, still place a bet on who the overall winner could be, but being able to be a bit broader on your selection is helpful. The odds offer up much better returns for the top five compared to choosing the top 20, but there is value in both.
- Head to head: Sportsbooks, like DraftKings California, will list two players and your job is to choose which of the golfers will have the higher finish when the tournament concludes.
- Prop bets: All prop bets in any sport that you wager on side bets you are making with your sportsbook. You can put money on things like a golfer potentially getting an eagle during the American Express, or if someone will manage to land a hole-in-one on a specific day. Depending on which sportsbook you’re using, the variety of prop bets can be pretty wide and usually offer up a lot of fun.
- First-round leader: This betting opportunity is exactly what it sounds like. You are tasked with trying to pick the golfer who will hold the lead after the first day of the American Express. Remember, this isn’t about who is going to win the entire tournament, just which golfer leads after the conclusion of the opening round.
- Three ball betting: Instead of two golfers to choose from like in the head-to-head option, this one allows you to choose from three.
- Each way: You can choose a golfer who you think will either win or place. Most sportsbooks allow the placement to be in the top five, but not always.
American Express golf betting tips
If you’re considering betting on the Desert Classic, we have a few tips to help you along the way.
1. Don’t focus too hard on past winners
Golf is the kind of sport that rarely sees the same player winning the same event year after year. In fact, since 2000, only three golfers have won it twice:
- Phil Mickelson in 2002 and 2004
- Bill Haas in 2010 and 2015
- Hudson Swafford in 2017 and 2022
Instead, focus on the trends of the players who are competing in the American Express, and look for those who have had success recently on the PGA West courses and at La Quinta Country Club. Also, keep in mind other factors like what the weather forecast is showing and which golfers have had positive results and improvement over their past few tournaments.
2. Why pick the winner?
If you take a look at the fact that only three golfers have repeated as American Express champions since 2000, it’s easy to see that determining who the winner of the PGA Tour event is going to be isn’t the easiest task. Even the best golfers can come into a tournament and suffer a bad day, or even fall victim to the dreaded yips when least expected.
Choosing the winner of a PGA Tour event is hard, and that’s just the truth of the matter. So if you have your eye on a particular golfer, consider placing an each-way bet or betting on them in head-to-head or three-ball opportunities.
3. Don’t be shy about the longshots
Longshots and American Express go hand-in-hand for an inexplicable reason. In fact, of all the winners since 2016, only Jon Rahm had odds better than +4000, and his line was still set at +1000 going into the 2018 edition.
While we wouldn’t suggest you drop your entire bankroll on going after a longshot to win, they’re almost equally likely to win as many of the betting favorites.
American Express favorites
As we’ve said before, it’s difficult to pick an outright champion for a PGA Tour event, and the American Express is no different. Predicting the golfer who will rise above the rest and take the top spot in a tournament such as this one requires a lot of information and the willingness to dig through it all to give yourself the best chance.
To help you along, we’ve selected four golfers who are favorites to potentially win the American Express PGA Tour stop. Make sure to check back often and look over our odds feed to see the most updated betting lines available for bettors.
- Lee Hodges: A rookie in 2022, Hodges has shown a lot of promise in his young professional career. In the 2022 edition of the American Express, he finished tied for third place after having a two-stroke lead going into the second nine.
- Jon Rahm: A champion from the 2018 iteration of the American Express tournament, Rahm has had quality rounds in just about every tournament he has played in over recent years. Top-10 finishes are just a part of what he does, which means it’s only a matter of time before he’s in the top spot once again.
- Matt Fitzpatrick: Another golfer who has been showing improvement in recent tournaments over the past few years, Fitzpatrick has all the tools to start adding plenty of wins to his resume. If he finds himself heading into the final round of an event like the American Express, he may leave with a championship.
- Collin Morikawa: Some golfers just come into the tour and look like they’ve always belonged. Morikawa is one such athlete. He seems to be in the running for every tournament he ever plays in, so it shouldn’t be a stretch to look at him as a potential champion when he makes his way to the American Express.
How to bet on the American Express online in California
The reality of sports betting is that it is easier than ever to get involved and enjoy the hobby. It takes just a few minutes of your time to register for a new account at any legal and regulated online sportsbook in California.
If you’re unsure about which sportsbooks best fit your needs, you should take some time and browse through our in-depth reviews on each one. We break down all the pros and cons for each and discuss their current bonus offers for new customers.
Once you’ve made your decision, follow our link to that sportsbook to get access to the best promotions currently available. You’ll be transported to the sportsbook after that little click, and you can then register for a new account.
The process doesn’t take long at all and simply asks for your personal information, including things like your name, address, and Social Security number. Once provided, you’ll be asked to accept the terms and conditions from the sportsbook and then you’ll be able to claim your bonuses, make a deposit and start betting.
Don’t forget to download the sports betting app that comes with your account. That allows you to have your sportsbook right with you at all times so you can make your bets, deposit and withdraw money, and more.
You’ll be able to find PGA events under the golf tab at most online sportsbooks, and then you’ll be able to browse through the upcoming events to make your wagers.
Having an account at an online sportsbook in California gives you access to live sports betting as well, including live golf betting. That allows you to make bets while the tournament is being played. It is one of the hottest trends in sports betting right now and doesn’t look to be slowing down.
PGA Tour American Express history
The American Express began its life in 1960 as the Palm Springs Golf Classic. In 1965, it was renamed the Bob Hope Desert Classic, and then the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1986.
The biggest draw for casual golf fans over the years has been the celebrity Pro-Am competition that begins the tournament. The American Express website indicates some of the most notable celebrities who have played in the Pro-Am have included Bing Crosby, Kirk Douglas, Desi Arnaz, Frank Sinatra, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Fallon, Don Cheadle, and even presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush.
The first-ever edition of the event was won by Arnold Palmer in 1960 with a -22, a record that stayed in place for two decades. He is the only player to win the event five times.
The event is played annually in January.
Last 10 American Express winners
There have been a lot of notable winners of the Desert Classic over the decades. Below we take a look at the past 10 winners of the American Express.
| Year | Golfer | Final Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hudson Swafford | -23 |
| 2021 | Si Woo Kim | -23 |
| 2020 | Andrew Landry | -26 |
| 2019 | Adam Long | -26 |
| 2018 | Jon Rahm | -22 |
| 2017 | Hudson Swafford | -20 |
| 2016 | Jason Dufner | -25 |
| 2015 | Bill Haas | -22 |
| 2014 | Patrick Reed | -28 |
| 2013 | Brian Gay | -25 |
Longshot winners of the American Express
For whatever reason, the American Express just seems to be the PGA Tour event that brings out the best in the longshots.
From 2016 to 2022, there was just one winner who had shorter odds than +4000, and that was Jon Rahm at +1000 in 2018. Those who have taken the chance at betting the longshot have done well for themselves, such as the time in 2019 when Adam Long took the top spot with a -26 and +6000 odds.
If that weren’t impressive enough, Hudson Swafford’s victory in 2022 came with +15000 odds to win it all.
The American Express is a great example of how golf can be a very fickle sport, and the best player over the run of a couple of days during a tournament can come from just about anywhere.