LA QUINTA, Calif. (December 9, 2025) – The American Express® today hosted members of the media as well as event sponsors for a day of golf, tournament updates, and fun in the Coachella Valley.
As part of the ceremonies, Pat McCabe, Tournament Director for The American Express®, announced that the 2026 edition has received commitments from six world-class players, which include major champions Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman, as well as Ben Griffin, who is currently ranked ninth in the Official World Golf Rankings after a stellar 2025 campaign.
“The 2026 American Express® is officially on the horizon and we could not be more excited to once again host some of the best players in the world,” said McCabe.
Joining Clark, Harman, and Griffin in this year’s tournament is Rickie Fowler, who hails from Southern California, as well as Akshay Bhatia and defending champion Sepp Straka.
“I could not be more excited to return to The American Express, a tournament that now means a great deal to me,” Straka said. “Everything about this event is special, from the world class hospitality to the remarkable golf courses. Winning this historic tournament was one of the highlights of my career and I am thrilled to return to the Coachella Valley to defend my title.”
Straka posted a trio of sub-65 rounds over the first three days and ultimately shot 25-under par to win the 2025 title by two over Justin Thomas. The Austrian went on to have a stellar season, which included a Signature Event victory at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in May. He then went on to help Europe win the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where the European Team became the first road team to emerge victorious in the competition since 2012.
Bhatia, meanwhile, has two PGA TOUR victories to his name but has never made the 54-hole cut at The American Express®. He hopes to change that in 2026.
Fowler, who won THE PLAYERS Championship in 2015, quickly became one of the most popular players in the world after he joined the PGA TOUR in 2010. Since then, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy has amassed six TOUR victories and competed in five Ryder Cups and three Presidents Cups for Team USA.
Clark and Harman became household names in the sporting world thanks to their career-defining victories during the summer of 2023. At the Los Angeles Country Club, which hosted the U.S. Open for the first time, Clark held off numerous top players to win by a stroke. He also has two other PGA TOUR victories and hopes to regain his 2023 form at The American Express® this upcoming January. As for Harman, he hoisted the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool a month after Clark’s victory, dominating the English links to win The Open Championship by six. Harman has won three other times on the PGA TOUR, most recently doing so in April 2025.
Last but certainly not least, Griffin will arrive in the Coachella Valley as one of the game’s brightest stars following a 2025 season that saw him win three times. He also made his first U.S. Ryder Cup team. Griffin’s T-7 finish at the 2025 The American Express® served as a harbinger of things to come for the former North Carolina Tar Heel.
More player commitments are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
The 67th edition of The American Express® will take place January 19-25, 2026, at PGA WEST’s Pete Dye Stadium Course (host course) and Nicklaus Tournament Course, as well as La Quinta Country Club. Once again, this tournament will have 156 amateurs competing alongside 156 professionals over the first three rounds, with each player having the opportunity to play one round on each course. Then, after 54-holes, the top 65-professionals and ties make the cut as the final round will commence on PGA WEST’s Pete Dye Stadium Course.
In addition to seeing world class players compete, fans who buy tickets for Friday and Saturday’s rounds will be given the opportunity to attend the 2026 Concert Series. After the second round, country music sensation Old Dominion will take the stage on Friday, January 23rd and renowned pop rock band OneRepublic is set to perform on Saturday, January 24th following the third round.
All ticket holders – regardless of which day they attend – will have access to the Michelob Ultra Beers Fore Birdies, which is located on the famous par-3 17th on the Pete Dye Stadium Course known as ‘Alcatraz.’ With amazing views, this fan favorite venue gives everyone even more reason to cheer: any time a professional makes a birdie, beers are discounted.
Other activations include local business concessions, The Turn located between the 1st tee and 9th green of the Stadium Course, Bushmills Irish Whiskey Lounge, Corona Premier Par-Tee Lounge, and the Patriots Outpost presented by SoFi. A premier merchandise tent, which includes unique collaborations such as the one between Malbon and American Express, is also a highlight for every fan who attends.
Tickets are now on sale at the tournament’s official website, www.theamexgolf.com. American Express Card Members can get 20% off the ticket price for General Admission, Clubhouse, and Champion Club tickets when they pay with their American Express Card. Terms and exclusions apply.
Follow The American Express® via social media on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheAmericanExpress), X (@TheAmexGolf), and Instagram (@TheAmexGolf).
***
ABOUT THE AMERICAN EXPRESS®
Founded in 1960, The American Express® Golf Tournament is a premier PGA TOUR event that brings together 156 professional and amateur golfers, music entertainers and golf fans to celebrate the sport and its community impact. Held annually at PGA WEST’s Pete Dye Stadium Course (host course) and Nicklaus Tournament Course, as well as La Quinta Country Club, the tournament showcases exceptional talent while supporting local charities through various initiatives. Since its inception, the event has generated over $67 million in charitable contributions. Past champions include inaugural winner Arnold Palmer, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir, Fred Couples, and the 2025 champion Sepp Straka. Follow The American Express® on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheAmericanExpress), X (@TheAmexGolf), and Instagram (@TheAmexGolf). Visit www.theamexgolf.com for more information.
ABOUT HOST ORGANIZATION
The Impact Through Golf Foundation was formed in July 2019 and serves as the charitable, non-profit organization for The American Express®. The Foundation provides funding to organizations that support health and wellness, education, youth and family support, homelessness, natural disaster recovery, rebuilding support, and capital improvement. Since the tournament’s inception in 1960, The American Express® has generated over $67 Million to support more than 100 non-profit organizations and charities in the Coachella Valley region. For more information, please visit: https://impactthroughgolf.org.
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. With over a hundred million merchant locations across our global network, we seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.
For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.
ABOUT PGA TOUR
By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.
The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Americas and administers PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry and PGA TOUR University. TOUR members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 28 countries and territories. Showcasing the biggest moments in the sport with history and legacy on the line, the PGA TOUR has long-term domestic distribution partnerships for broadcast coverage on CBS, NBC and Golf Channel and video streaming service on ESPN+. Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage is available across 200+ countries and territories in 30 languages via 39 broadcast and digital partners. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $4 billion.
Fans can follow the PGA TOUR via: the PGA TOUR app and PGATOUR.COM; social media channels, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram (in Spanish, Korean and Japanese), LinkedIn, TikTok, X (in English, Spanish and Japanese); the PGA TOUR Channel on Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) platforms such as the Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, PlutoTV, Xumo, LG Channels, Tubi, Amazon’s Freevee, FireTV and Alexa devices; and WhatsApp (in English and Spanish), WeChat, Weibo, Toutiao and Douyin.
ABOUT SPORTFIVE
SPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.
While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.
Being at the center of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have. SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Handball, Motorsport, Esports, Cricket, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events, Wintersports and many more.