During the Saturday round of the 2026 American Express event, stronger winds emerged for the first time throughout the week, curtailing the rapid scoring seen during the initial 36 holes in La Quinta, California. This effect was evident among the leading players, as Scottie Scheffler – following impressive rounds of 63 and 64 – encountered the heightened challenge of PGA West’s Stadium Course and posted a 4-under 68, placing him at 20 under heading into the conclusive round.
Scheffler recorded his initial bogey for the tournament on the 3rd hole, followed by an additional dropped shot on the subsequent nine. On the 18th, it appeared he might concede another stroke after an unsatisfactory approach from the short grass and an errant chip, yet he successfully sank a 25-foot putt, securing a tie for second place and ensuring his spot in Sunday’s second-to-last pairing.
The tenacious par by Scheffler on the final hole positioned him only a single stroke behind Si Woo Kim, who achieved a 66 at La Quinta Country Club, propelling him past the world’s top-ranked player and into sole possession of the lead at 22 under. Kim executed a sequence of three consecutive birdies on his inward nine during the latter part of the day, capitalizing on the more tranquil weather to ascend to the foremost position.
Alongside Scheffler at a total of 21 under par is the 18-year-old talent, Blade Brown, who also carded a 68 on the Stadium Course, placing him in the exact same position as he began the day relative to the player from Texas – tied. Brown, having just completed a round of 60 on Saturday, successfully maintained his composure on the more challenging course amidst adverse weather, and he is now set to experience his inaugural Sunday competing for a PGA Tour title.
When queried about his strongest performance on Saturday, Brown stated, “Just staying level. There’s so many emotions that you go through in a round. I was 1 under through 15 holes, and I knew that there were some guys coming up the leaderboard that were going to make a run. I tried to put myself in as many birdie positions as possible and happened to make three coming down the stretch.”
These three individuals are scheduled to be the main attractions for Sunday’s championship round at the Stadium Course, once the competitors are reduced to the leading 60 players and those tied, and professionals are no longer required to play in foursomes with amateur companions. Brown and Kim are slated to comprise the ultimate pairing, with Scheffler close behind them in the group just preceding, intending to exert influence from a hole in advance throughout the entire afternoon.
Leader
1. Si Woo Kim (-22): Kim was somewhat overlooked on Friday, even with his phenomenal 63-65 opening to the event, largely because attention gravitated toward Brown’s near-59 round and Scheffler’s position atop the standings. Nevertheless, Kim has demonstrated the most consistent play throughout this week, achieving scores of 66 or less in each of the first three rounds. His career history shows he can deliver low scores when in good form. This trend has clearly continued this week, and the various courses used for the American Express have suited his bold approach. His excellent ball-striking coupled with an effective putter establish him as a significant contender, and it’s highly probable he will not adopt a cautious strategy on Sunday to safeguard his advantage.
Contenders
T2. Scottie Scheffler, Blades Brown (-21)
T4. Eric Cole, Wyndham Clark (-20)
T6. Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Andrew Putnam (-19)
9. J.T. Poston (-18)
T10. Patrick Cantlay and four others (-17)
Scheffler maintains his status as the projected winner, even though he trails Kim by one stroke, and his round of 68 on Saturday at the Stadium Course appeared to be achieved despite him not performing at his best. This performance likely establishes a baseline for what to anticipate in the decisive round, assuming there isn’t a significant increase in wind. Kim, Brown, and all other competitors pursuing the lead should consider 25 under par as the approximate score required to overcome Scheffler.
The narrative surrounding Brown this week is truly remarkable, considering he is preparing for his eighth consecutive competitive golf round, having just secured a top-20 position at a Korn Ferry Tour tournament in the Bahamas just days prior. While his age of 18 assists in rapid recovery, Brown’s psychological strategy has been especially notable. His calm demeanor on Saturday culminated in a strong close, and though he will undoubtedly face unfamiliar pressures on Sunday, his track record thus far indicates he is well-equipped to meet the challenge.
Outside of the leading trio, Clark stands out as the most formidable contender among the pursuing group. He delivered his finest round of the week on the Stadium Course on Friday and seems to have regained his peak performance after a less successful year in 2025. He maintained his momentum with a 66 on Saturday and is now aiming to secure his initial victory in over twelve months.
Notable names to miss the cut
- Chris Kirk (-9)
- Will Zalatoris (-9)
- Tony Finau (-9)
- Justin Rose (-8)
- Brian Harman (-7)
- Sepp Straka (-2)
- Akshay Bhatia (-1)
- Ludvig Åberg (WD — Illness)
2026 American Express updated odds, picks
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Scottie Scheffler (+100)
- Si Woo Kim (+200)
- Blades Brown (+800)
- Wyndham Clark (+1100)
- Eric Cole (+1700)
The fact that Scheffler is just one stroke behind the frontrunner considerably diminishes the chances for other players attempting to overtake the leaders come Sunday. At this juncture, Clark represents the most advantageous betting option, possessing the capability to achieve a sufficiently low score for victory and appearing exceptionally at ease on the Stadium Course. My favorable view of him as a potential winner from Friday remains unaltered by his Saturday performance, reinforcing my belief that he will be a key contender until the very conclusion.
