American Express golf tournament 2023: Tickets, parking, schedule and more
What it is
The 64th annual The American Express, featuring many of the top PGA tour stars, returns to the desert at three Coachella Valley courses -- the Pete Dye Stadium Course and the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West as well as La Quinta Country Club.
Who is playing
Many of the top players in the world are in the tournament, including five of the top seven players in Official World Golf Rankings. That includes past American Express winner Jon Rahm, reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, world No. 4 Patrick Cantlay, No. 6 Xander Schauffele and No. 7 Will Zalatoris. Other highly ranked players in the field include Tony Finau, Sam Burns and Tom Kim, as well as Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Tom Hoge, past major champions Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover and Danny Willett and past American Express winners Si Woo Kim, Andrew Landry, Bill Haas and Jason Dufner. Eight of the 12 players on the International team in the last Presidents Cup are in the field.
When
Official tournament begins Thursday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 22. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. First tee times 8:30 a.m.
Purse
The professionals are playing for $8 million, with the winner taking home $1.44 million
Concerts
The American Express will present two post-round concerts during the week. Friday’s concert will feature Grammy winning pop star Gwen Stefani, while Saturday’s concert will feature multi-platinum selling artist Darius Rucker. The concert stage will be on the driving range at PGA West, with concerts starting at approximately 5 p.m. after play on those days. A general admission ticket to golf during the day is $79 and will include access to the concerts.
Television
All four rounds will be broadcast by Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m. on Jan. 19-22. Coverage on ESPN+ will begin at 9 a.m. each day and run through 4 p.m.
How it works
Play in the 54-hole pro-am portion of the tournament will feature foursomes consisting of two PGA Tour pros and two amateurs each day. Golfers will rotate golf courses each of the first three days and amateurs will rotate professional partners each day. The format is better ball, with amateurs using their full handicaps. Amateurs receive awards in both net and gross divisions. The low 65 professionals and ties after 54 holes will play a final 18 holes Sunday on the Stadium Course at PGA West.
Tickets
Single-day grounds tickets are available online or at the gate. Tickets are $50 for non-concert days, $79 for concert days. Premium tickets, including admission to tournament grounds Jan. 19-22, the open air venue, Club 18 that includes complimentary lunch, hosted beer, wine and Casamigos Cocktails as well as all public fan venues, start at $125. Other ticket packages for enhanced gallery experiences and access are available at theamexgolf.com/tickets.
Parking
All general parking for La Quinta Country Club, Nicklaus Tournament and TPC Stadium courses at PGA West will be off of Jefferson Street near Ave. 54 in La Quinta, across the street from the entrance to PGA West. Entrance to the parking lot is off Jefferson. Parking is $20. Shuttle busses will take fans from the parking lot into PGA West or La Quinta Country Club and back to the parking lot. Shuttle buses will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except for Friday and Saturday, when shuttles will run through the end of the concerts at night.
Cell phone policy
The PGA Tour has adopted a policy that allows fans to bring their cell phone onto the course during play. Cell phones must be set to silent (vibrate) and may be used in designated mobile device areas. Cell phones may not be used for photography or video.
Suggestions for viewing
At the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West
Several areas of the course provide viewing of several holes. The hospitality areas next to the 12th green also provide a view of the entire 13th hole and the 16th tee. The 17th hole, with its island green and natural amphitheater, will be popular and is just steps away from the 10th green, 11th tee and 18th tee.
At the Nicklaus Tournament Course
The ninth and 18th greens are directly next to each other and are joined by a small strip of mowed grass. The area around the sixth, seventh and eighth holes is a tight area that allows fans quick access from one hole to another.
At La Quinta Country Club
Two locations offer multiple vantage points. On the front nine, fans can station themselves behind the eighth green and watch action on four holes – the eighth green, ninth tee, first green and second tee. On the back nine, the 11th green provides a similar opportunity. From there, fans can easily walk between the 11th green, the 12th tee, the 16th green and the 17th tee.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: American Express golf 2023: Tickets, parking, schedule and more
