Scottie Scheffler, World #1, wins the AMEX Championship, earning his 20^th PGA Tour victory, and joining the $100ml in earnings club.

 Richard Rowland, Golf Writer

Photos courtesy of PGA Tour Media, and Richard Rowland

The 67^th edition of The American Express concluded Sunday at PGA WEST’s Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif. as World #1 Scottie Scheffler starts his 2026 Season off on the right foot, with a four-shot victory (-27) over Jason Day, and Ryan Gerard at (-23). Scheffler earns $1,656,000 for the win which puts him over $100ml for career earnings with a 63-64-68-66 total of 261 (-27).

Scheffler becomes the 40^th player to reach 20 PGA Tour wins, and the first since Rory McIlroy, and the first since Tiger Woods to earn 20 wins under 39 years of age. Scottie accomplished this feat in 151 starts, second behind only Tiger’s 20 wins in 95 starts. Rory took 205 starts to accomplish his 20 wins, very good company, indeed. It was also Scheffler’s first time winning an event in his season’s debut. It was also his seventh win in his last 13 starts on Tour.

Another surprising young player highlighted the field at the AMEX, after Scott Dunlop won as an amateur in 2024. Blades Brown, an 18-year-old sponsor’s exemption to the tournament, entered the 4^th and final round playing in the last group with Scheffler one shot behind, after a second round 60 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Blades finished tied for 18^th after a final round 74, his best finish in ten Tour starts. Blades had a very philosophical viewpoint in his interviews “These golf courses are so difficult, but I’m having fun out there. I’m 18 years old playing on the PGA Tour, I just finished high school two weeks ago. How awesome is that?”

Awesome it is!

Aon Swing 5

·       The American Express was the second of four opportunities for players to earn FedExCup points towards the Aon Swing 5 with entry into each of the next two Signature Events (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational)

·       The top five players, not otherwise exempt, who earn the most FedExCup points during the Sony Open in Hawaii, The American Express, Farmers Insurance Open and the WM Phoenix Open will qualify for the first two Signature Events

·       Aon Swing 5 Leaderboard through The American Express:

 1. Patrick Rodgers – 198.792 points, 2. Matt McCarty – 189.250 points
 3. Andrew Putnam – 183.750 points, 4. Pierceson Coody – 98.167 points, 5. S.H. Kim– 98.167 points

The American Express was the first tournament of the 2026 PGA TOUR regular season to take place in the continental United States, and next week will feature the Farmer’s Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, CA. The 2026 West Coast Swing is in progress.