Younger readers might remember the La Quinta event as the Desert Classic or the CareerBuilder Challenge, but what was for years the Bob Hope Classic is now called The American Express, after the finance company threw some of their millions behind it. The American Express will be hosted by none other than local favourite Phil Mickelson, so we can expect a stellar field and a lot of buzz. Let’s take a look at the form in my The American Express betting tips…
The details
Venue: La Quinta, California, USA
Date: January 16-19, 2020
Course stats: PGA Tour West Stadium Course, Par-72, 7,200 yards, La Quinta CC, Par-72, 7,060 yards, Nicklaus Tournament Course, Par-72, 7,160 yards
Defending champion: Adam Long (-26)
TV coverage
Thursday: Featured Groups, 4.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event), Main coverage, 8pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Friday: Featured Groups, 4.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event), Main coverage, 8pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Saturday: 8pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Sunday: 8pm (Sky Sports Golf)
The American Express betting tips: Who to back each-way
Russell Knox (55/1 with bet365) is an appealing price in the each-way market.
His form towards the back end of 2019 could best be described as solid – he was making cuts but apart from the odd occasion not quite being able to push into the top 10. The same could be said for his week at the Sony Open last time out where he finished just outside the top 30.
However, he’s been going along nicely and if he is able to put four consistent rounds together a place would be well within his reach. A top 20 here last year and a top 30 the year before have him trending in the right direction.
Vaughn Taylor (50/1) is just slightly stronger in the market and to me looks to be a little overpriced.
He’s finished inside the top 10 here on more than one occasion with the most recent coming just last year where he finished tied for 7th.
His strong end to 2019 was good to see and he has already shown that he hasn’t gone off the boil as he returned to the course last week in Hawaii finishing in a tie for 12th.
Taylor would be my leading each-way selection and perhaps we could even see him pick up his long-awaited fourth PGA Tour win.
So that’s the each-way bets sorted, head to the next page for my top tip…