The globe’s foremost golfer has emphatically commenced his season, with Scottie Scheffler following up his 63 on Thursday with a 64 on Friday, establishing a commanding score of 17 under par as he heads into the weekend at the 2026 American Express. Scheffler remains flawless, without a single bogey across his initial two rounds at the American Express, having meticulously navigated La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus Tournament Course, capitalizing on optimal desert weather.
Absent of significant wind, the trio of courses designated for this competition offered minimal resistance to the sport’s elite, and Scheffler has exploited these conditions more effectively than any other competitor.
The leading global golfer will now transition to the Stadium Course at PGA West, a venue poised to offer a more formidable test compared to the previous two courses during the concluding 36 holes. Scheffler expressed enthusiasm for competing on a layout that both acknowledges excellent performance and penalizes errors.
“That golf course is a lot tougher than these other two, ball-striking-wise. You’ve got to get the ball in play,” Scheffler said. “You can shoot a low number out there, but you’ve gotta really be getting the ball in play. It can punish you pretty quick. There’s a lot of water on the golf course. I think it’s a really good challenge. I think it’s a great course in terms of, when you’re hitting it well and you’re putting the ball in position, you can shoot a really low number. And if not, you’re gonna get punished pretty severely for it.”
Alongside Scheffler at the summit of the standings is Blades Brown, an 18-year-old who completed his sixth continuous competitive golf round on Friday, having previously competed in a Korn Ferry Tour event held in the Bahamas from Sunday through Wednesday.
Brown, also competing on the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday, began with exceptional intensity, reaching 8 under par within his initial seven holes (commencing on the back nine), thereby positioning himself for a potential 59-stroke round. He advanced to 12 under par after 15 holes, signifying he required merely one birdie across his concluding three holes to achieve only the 16th round of 59 or lower in PGA Tour annals.
Brown failed to convert opportunities on the par-5 7th or from an outstanding tee shot on the par-3 8th, thus leaving himself in need of a birdie on the 9th hole – his 18th – to secure a 59. Following a powerful drive, he had only a gap wedge remaining for his second shot, which he placed precisely within 5 feet, establishing a straightforward birdie chance.
Regrettably for Brown, his birdie attempt drifted just to the right of the cup, resulting in a string of three pars to conclude his round with a 60, setting a new course record at the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
“Absolutely … of course I did, yeah,” Brown said with a laugh when asked if he felt added pressure on the last three holes. “I just stuck to my game plan. I said I’m going to execute shots that I can control, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get the job done this time. But I am so stoked to have shot 60 on the PGA Tour.”
Simultaneously at La Quinta Country Club, Andrew Putnam equaled Brown’s achievement, carding a 12-under 60 to share the course record, yet he also missed a birdie opportunity on his closing hole that would have resulted in a 59. Putnam’s round of 60 followed a less-than-stellar 72 on Thursday, propelling him 114 places higher into the top 20 rankings.
Brown’s impressive 60 propelled him up 50 positions, earning him a co-lead alongside Scheffler as they advance to the weekend. Similar to Scheffler, his third round will take place on the more challenging Stadium Course, preceding the 54-hole cut, after which all remaining players will complete the event on Pete Dye’s demanding desert layout.
Pace Setters
T1. Scottie Scheffler, Blades Brown (-17): Given the 54-hole cut format, playing partners will not be re-sorted until Sunday, implying that Scheffler and Brown will not be paired during ‘Moving Day.’ This arrangement might prove beneficial for the youthful Brown, granting him an additional day free from the intense scrutiny and burden of competing directly against the world’s premier golfer. Replicating his Friday 60 will be arduous, yet he is poised for the most significant result of his burgeoning career, having made three cuts in eight appearances in 2025 but not securing a top 25 placement.
Scheffler, conversely, aims to achieve an unprecedented feat in his distinguished career: clinching a victory within his initial five tournaments of the season. Should any competitor possess the aptitude to consistently score well on the Stadium Course, it is Scheffler, who will be targeting a start-to-finish triumph to inaugurate his 2026 season.
Challengers
3. Si Woo Kim (-16)
T4. S.H. Kim, Matt McCarty (-15)
T6. Eric Cole, Rickie Fowler, Nico Echavarria, Wyndham Clark, Jacob Bridgeman, Nick Taylor (-14)
T12. Russell Henley, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin and three others (-13)
Although Kim did not achieve a score of 60, his 7-under performance on the Stadium Course was remarkably strong, enabling him to maintain proximity to Scheffler before his scheduled round at La Quinta Country Club on Saturday. Clark’s 64 on the Stadium Course represented the day’s best score on that particular track; he ascended into the top 10 and will similarly proceed to La Quinta CC aiming to gain further advantage in the third round.
Aside from these two, several formidable players are positioned within the top 20, including Fowler, Griffin, Henley, and Cantlay, all steadily progressing to maintain their prospects as they head into the weekend.
Should the breeze remain gentle throughout the weekend, an abundance of scores in the low 60s is anticipated, affording competitors numerous chances to significantly ascend the leaderboard. The primary obstacle for everyone remains the individual leading the pack, as Scheffler will also benefit from these favorable conditions, making him an exceptionally difficult opponent to overtake.
Were almost any other golfer holding the lead, this event would likely retain a sense of being entirely open, considering the scoring potential on these courses; however, Scheffler’s front-runner status substantially reduces the probability of a significant opportunity emerging for those trailing. Nevertheless, a round of 59 has shown itself to be achievable this week, and for individuals still slated to compete at La Quinta CC or the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Saturday, aspirations of a comparable surge, akin to Brown’s and Putnam’s on Friday, will be strong.
A stylish conclusion
Tony Finau has lacked the necessary scoring momentum to be a front-runner thus far this week, but he provided himself a significant lift heading into the weekend by holing out from the fairway with a wedge for an eagle on the 9th hole of the Nicklaus Tournament Course, his final shot on Friday.
This play advanced him to 8 under par for the competition and into a tie for 61st position as Saturday commences. As the cut line remains uncertain, Finau’s eagle to complete his second round might be crucial for his opportunity to participate on Sunday.
Revised Betting Odds and Selections for the 2026 American Express
Betting figures sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook
- Scottie Scheffler (+134)
- Si Woo Kim (+410)
- Ben Griffin (+1450)
- Wyndham Clark (+1650)
- Patrick Cantlay (+1850)
- Blades Brown (+1950)
- Jacob Bridgeman (+2100)
Given the exceptional scoring and the congested leaderboard, it’s advisable to consider a few wagers on longer odds, particularly for players who still have a round scheduled away from the Stadium Course. Concurrently, with Scheffler occupying the top spot, it’s likely prudent to avoid excessive aggression when considering picks beyond Scottie himself.
Clark presents a notable opportunity, considering his upcoming round at La Quinta CC and his visibly improved form at the outset of 2026 compared to his performance in 2025. He possesses the ability to produce very low scores, and his best round of the week thus far occurred on the Stadium Course, which should instill significant confidence for Sunday if he finds himself in contention. Furthermore, a small bet on Sam Burns, positioned lower on the list at 92-1, would not be ill-advised. He trails by only five strokes and has a history of exceptional putting leading to impressive scores.
