Sepp Straka holds a four-stroke lead at The American Express

LA QUINTA – Sepp Straka of Austria has been pretty much flawless so far at The American Express, but he will have to overcome the toughest of the tournament’s three courses to capture the win.

Straka shot an eight-under 64 for the second day in a row to surge to the lead on Jan 18 at La Quinta Country Club in California. He was at 23-under 193 and took a four-stroke lead into the final round on Jan 19 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course.

“No lead is safe,” said Straka, who would be aiming for his first PGA Tour victory since the 2023 John Deere Classic and his third overall.

“You’ve just got to keep hitting your spots and you’ve really got to strike the ball well out there.”

His third round included a six under through nine holes as he started on the backside. He tallied two more birdies at the fifth and sixth and sank a 10-foot par putt at No. 8 to sign another bogey-free card.

He has recorded a par or birdie on all 54 holes played in the tournament. Two other golfers entered play on Jan 18 without a bogey, but now, it was only Straka.

Second-round co-leader Charley Hoffman (69), Justin Lower (68) and Australia’s Jason Day (67) shared second place at 19 under.

That trio all played the Stadium Course on Jan 18 in the tournament’s unique set-up, which has golfers play each of the first three rounds on a different course. Pete Dye Stadium, La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus Tournament Course each present a par-72 layout to narrow the field for the final round.

Hoffman has not posted a victory since 2016. Lower has never won on the tour but had five top-10 finishes in 2024. Day has 13 wins but none since May 2023.

“I don’t play this game to try and make cuts and finish in the top 100,” said the 48-year-old Hoffman, who notched the first of his four PGA Tour victories in this event in 2007, when it was known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

“I try to win golf tournaments. You can only do it if you’re in position.”

Patrick Cantlay (66, Stadium), who finished with three straight birdies, and Mark Hubbard (69, La Quinta) shared fifth at 18 under.

Justin Thomas (68, Stadium) was in seventh at 17 under, while Max Greyserman (65, Stadium) and Daniel Berger (65, La Quinta) were at 16 under and tied for eighth place.

Greyserman had one of the day’s highlights with an eagle two from the 10th fairway.

The Philippines’ Rico Hoey, who shared the top spot when play concluded on Jan 17, slumped to a tie for 17th at 14 under after a 74 on the Stadium Course. First-round leader J.T. Poston (64, La Quinta) was also at 14 under.

The cut for this tournament, which involves play on three courses, comes after 54 holes. Golfers needed to be at nine under or better to advance.

That meant that 17-year-old American Blades Brown, who shot 64 on Jan 17 as he competed in his first PGA Tour event, would not play on Jan 19.

He posted 74 during the Jan 18 round on the Stadium Course, putting him at six-under 210 for the tournament.

Brown called golf “a weird and funny game” while he appreciated the chance to compete.

“I’m going to keep my head up,” he said. “This is going to sting a little bit, but looking forward to what’s next...

“I’m thankful and grateful to be here. This has been so much fun competing on the PGA Tour.”

Brown said he will enter a qualifier on Jan 20 to try to earn a spot at the Jan 22-25 Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.

However, Xander Schauffele has withdrawn from the upcoming event, the second consecutive tournament the world No. 2 will miss due to an undisclosed “medical reason”.

He also missed The American Express and will now sit out the Torrey Pines event for the first time since the San Diego native made his debut there in 2016 while on the Korn Ferry Tour.

He finished joint-ninth in 2024 at Farmers, where he has four consecutive top-15 finishes. REUTERS