Golf fans, get ready! The PGA Tour kicks off its 2025 season with the much-anticipated American Express, marking the start of the West Coast Swing. Scheduled from January 16 to January 19, this exciting tournament will take place at three stunning courses: the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club, and the Nicklaus Tournament Course, all located in beautiful La Quinta, California.
This year, the American Express will see 156 talented players vying for glory. Among them are notable names such as Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Sungjae Im, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, and Will Zalatoris, promising to deliver thrilling golf action. One familiar face is Nick Dunlap, who is returning to defend his title. Dunlap made history last year when he became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991, and he looks to maintain his strong form following a T-10 finish at the recent Sony Open.
The purse for this year's American Express is quite substantial, with $8.5 million up for grabs. The winner will take home $1.53 million, along with 500 valuable FedExCup points. For fans eager to follow all the action, live coverage will be provided by Golf Channel and ESPN+. This includes daily round coverage starting at 4 p.m. EST, with the final round set to begin on January 19.
Each day, the event will feature exciting moments as both professional players and their amateur partners compete. This unique pro-am format will see amateurs paired with professional golfers, creating plenty of interaction and fan engagement throughout the tournament. After the first three rounds, the field will be cut, ensuring only the top players progress to the final round on the Stadium Course.
This season promises more than just fantastic golf; there are notable changes coming to how fans experience the action. Paul Azinger, the well-respected former player and analyst, has been announced as the new face of the PGA Tour Champions broadcast for 2025. Azinger will replace long-time analyst Lanny Wadkins but will collaborate with him for the transition. He stated, "Joining the PGA TOUR Champions broadcast is going to be fun. These guys are the best senior players. It’s exciting to cover the legends of the sport." Azinger will join established hosts and analysts to bring viewers the best of senior golf.
Meanwhile, PGA Tour Studios, the state-of-the-art facility located near PGA Tour’s Global Home, is set to play a key role this year. David Piccolo, Sr. Vice President Executive Creative Director, highlighted the purpose of the new space, saying, "The vision of this building is to show as much golf to as many fans as possible, the way they want to consume it." This reflects the Tour’s commitment to embracing technology and innovation. With the studios enabling enhanced content creation, fans can expect to see diverse premium content aimed at engaging golf enthusiasts worldwide.
With the American Express serving as the first event of the West Coast Swing, excitement is palpable among players and fans alike. The event’s unique format, mix of amateurs and professionals, and highly competitive field is sure to offer memorable moments and exhilarating performances. Fans are encouraged to tune in as this year’s PGA Tour season kicks off, showcasing elite golfing talent and innovative broadcasting strategies.
The 2025 season marks not only the start of thrilling competitions but also signifies greater accessibility to the sport through advanced broadcast techniques and platforms. Fans can look forward to immersive viewing experiences, and the anticipation for the upcoming tournaments and events grows stronger as the days go by.