Top Golfers Commit to The American Express Amid Scheffler’s Withdrawal

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Just one day after losing the world’s top-ranked golfer, The American Express tournament announced that two major championship winners from 2023, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman, have committed to play in the event next week. The PGA Tour event, set for Jan. 16-19, will feature 10 of the top 30 players in the world, including Clark and Harman, who won the U.S. Open and British Open, respectively, last year.

Clark, currently ranked seventh globally, and Harman, ranked 30th, join a star-studded field that includes world No. 2 Xander Schauffele, who won two major championships in 2024. Their commitments come as a boost to the tournament following the withdrawal of Scottie Scheffler, the three-time PGA Tour Player of the Year, who cited the need for additional recovery time after hand surgery resulting from a Christmas cooking accident.

“That’s eight of the top 25 in the world, a number of past major champions, highlighted by Xander Schauffele, who won two of the four major championships last year,” said Pat McCabe, executive director of The American Express. The $8.8 million event will be played across three courses: the Pete Dye Stadium Course, the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, and La Quinta Country Club.

Clark, a three-time PGA Tour winner, claimed his first major title at the 2023 U.S. Open, edging out Rory McIlroy by one stroke. His most recent victory came at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Harman, also a three-time Tour winner, secured his first major at the 2023 British Open at Royal Liverpool in England.

The field also includes other major champions such as Justin Thomas, Zach Johnson, and Jason Day, as well as past winners of The American Express like Jason Dufner, Si Woo Kim, and Bill Haas. Top players like Billy Horschel, Sam Burns, Tom Kim, and Tony Finau will also compete.

Tickets for the tournament are available at theamexgolf.com, offering fans a chance to witness one of the PGA Tour’s most competitive early-season events.