Several of the world's top golfers come into this week's PGA Tour event in top form, and they should have little trouble scoring low in The American Express 2023. The tournament tees off Thursday across three courses in La Quinta, Calif., and the average winning score over the past 10 years is 24-under par. Five of the top seven golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking are scheduled to compete, led by world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. The likes of Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Will Zalatoris also are part of The American Express 2023 field that is among the best in the tournament's 63 years. The tournament, once known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, features a pro-am format and a 54-hole cut.
The latest 2023 American Express odds from Caesars Sportsbook list Rahm as the 13-2 favorite, and he is the highest-priced golfer at DraftKings at $10,800. Cantlay (19-2), Scheffler (11-1) and Tony Finau (15-1) are next in line at Caesars, and all are priced at more than $10,000 by DraftKings. Schauffele (19-1), Zalatoris (19-1) and Tom Kim (20-1) are among the other notable contenders in The American Express 2023 field. Who should you back with your Fantasy golf picks? Before setting your Fantasy golf rankings or making any 2023 American Express picks, you need to see the Fantasy golf projections and lineup advice from SportsLine Fantasy expert Jim Holliman.
Holliman has been a writer and editor for nearly 25 years and has been playing and following the game closely for more than three decades. The Florida-based writer knows what it takes to win on the PGA Tour and how the players' games fit the courses. The golf expert has been on a roll on his picks since last season. And last week, bargain pick Matt Kuchar ($7,900) posted a top-10 finish and two more picks were in the top 15. Fading Hideki Matsuyama was also the right move, as the defending champ barely cracked the top 50.
Last season, he nailed the Tour Championship, saying Rory McIlroy was the only player capable of making up a six-stroke deficit to get past Scheffler. "He has a lot of ground to make up," Holliman said, "but he is the most well-rounded player in this field, so if anyone can do it, he can." The Northern Irishman was actually down by 10 through two holes Sunday but stormed back to claim the title.
Holliman also was behind Will Zalatoris (28-1) at the St. Jude and was on the money at the Wyndham Championship, with Tom Kim (35-1) among his selections. "It's a matter of when (not if) he gets his first on the PGA Tour," Holliman said of Kim. It turned out to be at Sedgefield, where the 20-year-old won by five strokes. Anyone who has followed Holliman's predictions is way up on their golf picks.
Now, Holliman has ranked his top golfers for The American Express 2023, and revealed his Fantasy golf picks and advice. You can see it at SportsLine.
2023 American Express Fantasy golf expert picks
Holliman has one stunning prediction for this week: Fantasy players should fade Rahm and look for better value. "There are better ways to spend your valuable cap money," the expert says. The Spaniard was impressive in the final round at the Sentry and has won three of his past five tournaments. But his play on and around the greens is bound to regress to his typical level. The 28-year-old is one of the best on the planet, but he was 143rd in strokes gained around the green last season, and his putter can be streaky. If he isn't locked in, he could find some trouble.
On the other hand, the expert says Cantlay has just the kind of well-rounded game that he needs to succeed in The American Express. That's why has finished in the top 10 three straight times, including a runner-up spot in 2021. He is 58 under par over the past three years in La Quinta. He tied for second at the Shriners earlier this season and shot 12 under on the weekend to surge to T-16 at the Sentry his last time out. Cantlay was in the top 40 in every strokes gained category last season, and he leads the tour in greens in regulation so far in this campaign. You can see who else to back this week at SportsLine.
How to set your 2023 American Express Fantasy golf lineups
For the The American Express 2023, Holliman is backing a massive sleeper for Fantasy rosters who is priced at $7,000 at DraftKings and has triple-digit odds to win at Caesars. This golfer is on a roll lately, finishing in the top 15 in three straight tournaments. See who it is, along with the rest of Holliman's picks, at SportsLine.
Who wins the 2023 Sony Open, and who are the top players to target for your Fantasy picks? Which overlooked players can help you win your league this week? Visit SportsLine now to get Jim Holliman's Fantasy golf picks, all from the Fantasy expert who has been on fire with his picks, and find out.
