Scheffler starts the new year with
a 63. It allowed him to keep pace at The American Express
[January 23, 2026]
By DOUG FERGUSON
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — The idea for Scottie Scheffler was to get a
gauge on his game at The American Express, and all appeared to be in
good working order Thursday. He made birdies on half of his holes
for a 9-under 63 to join a parade of low scores that left him one
shot out of the lead.
Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody led the way at 10-under 62 on the
Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West, the easiest of the three on
the rotation. Scheffler played at La Quinta, where he didn't miss a
green until the 17th hole. He chipped that in for birdie.
“I think the hardest part about these tests where you have to shoot
so low is you can only shoot so many under par in a round of golf,”
Scheffler said. “The easier tests, where the scores are crazy low,
if you start falling behind it’s a lot harder to keep up, so you
have to keep pace out here.”
Jason Day had the most impressive round of the day with his 63 on
the Stadium Course at PGA West, which averaged nearly four shots
harder than the Nicklaus course and just over three shots harder
than La Quinta.
But it was a solid start for so many of the 156 players — the
largest domestic field of the year among regular PGA Tour events
because of the three courses. They were treated to ideal conditions
they expect in the California desert, with pleasant weather and
barely a breath of wind.
Even with the new tech-infused TGL, weather like this has always
made Palm Springs feel like playing indoors.
“You're coming to a dome almost,” Vince Whaley said after a 63 at
Nicklaus. “You got hardly any wind, perfect turf, perfect golf
courses, and it’s just a good check to see where your game’s at in
very benign conditions. Because if you can’t hit a 6-iron out here,
you’re not going to hit a 6-iron good anywhere.”
Scheffler leads the strongest field in decades at The American
Express, approaching the three-year anniversary at No. 1 in the
world, a combined 13 tour titles and three majors the last two
years.
This was his first competition against a full field — the first time
playing when there was a 36-hole cut — since September in Napa,
California (which he won).
Six holes into the new year, he already was 5-under par.
Scheffler hit only five of 14 fairways but was rarely out of
position until the end of his round, twice being blocked by trees
that required a hard fade on one how and a low slider around the
trees on another at the 17th. That one ran through the green,
leading to a chip that rolled in like a putt.
It was a fast start and routine pars in the middle with a few
birdies sprinkled in. About the only thing that caused even a little
stress was when sprinkler came on right below his feet when he was
doing interviews after his round.
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Scottie Scheffler watches his shot from the third tee during the
first round of the American Express golf event at La Quinta County
Club Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in La Quinta, Calif. (AP Photo/Ross D.
Franklin)
“Felt I could have hit a few more fairways on the
back nine, give myself some more opportunities,” Scheffler said.
“Even the fairways I was missing, I was missing on the correct side.
And it was nice, even though I wasn’t hitting it my best on the
back, but to keep it in play and give myself some opportunities.”
That was the case for just about everybody.
Lee had three straight birdies around the turn and four in a row
toward the end of his round. Coody made seven straight birdies on
the back nine before closing with a par.
Nine players were at 63, a group that included Ben Griffin and
Patrick Cantlay, and eight more players were at 64.
The final round will be played on the Stadium Course, and its
difficulty was primarily the firmness of the greens that made it
hard to get it close. Day didn't have too many problems as he put in
a new set of Avoda irons this year.
“Irons felt great, the short game felt good, and I putted really
nice today,” Day said. “Just got to work on the driver a little bit.
Some of the drives were a little off. But overall I feel pretty
solid.”
Rickie Fowler was slowed by three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on
the back nine at La Quinta, but his left shoulder felt great and
there wasn't too much tournament rust. Fowler hasn't competed since
the BMW Championship five months ago.
Divots
Blades Brown, the 18-year-old who turned pro last year, had a 67 to
cap off a wild 24 hours. He finished the Korn Ferry Tour event in
the Bahamas on Wednesday (tie for 17th), then flew private to Palm
Springs, arriving about 8 p.m. He had a 9:58 a.m. tee time Thursday
at La Quinta. He earned the flight voucher as a perk for finishing
in the top 50 at the Myrtle Beach Classic last year. ... Brian
Harman was penalized two shots for hitting the wrong ball on the
10th hole. Golf Channel reported it was an amateur's golf ball he
hit.
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