LA QUINTA, California — J.T. Poston opened The American Express with an impressive performance, shooting a 10-under 62 to gain a narrow lead of one stroke over Justin Lower.
Poston achieved this remarkable score on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, recording nine birdies and an eagle. Following closely, Lower finished with a solid 63 and was one stroke ahead of a group at 8-under that included well-known players like Jason Day, Joel Dahmen, Chris Kirk, J.J. Spaun, and Matti Schmid.
Having previously performed well on the favorable courses used for this event, Poston tied for sixth last year and 11th in 2023. The North Carolina golfer also has a good track record in desert play, recently winning a tournament in Las Vegas last fall.
“When I’m hitting the ball well, I feel I have all the shots needed to approach the hole effectively, allowing me to capitalize on scoring opportunities,” remarked Poston, a three-time PGA Tour champion. “I know I can rack up birdies, as I demonstrated today, making this tournament a great fit for my playing style.”
In his round, Lower showcased a bogey-free effort, featuring consecutive eagles, which was a first for him in both tournament and regular play. “It certainly enhances the score when you can make back-to-back eagles,” he said.
Canadian Nick Taylor continued his momentum from last week’s Sony Open, finishing with a 65 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. Following closely were Tony Finau at 7 under, with Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay completing rounds of 67 and 68, respectively.
Seventeen-year-old Blades Brown, granted a sponsor exemption, shot a 72 in his professional debut. After facing some early struggles with a bogey and a double-bogey, the high school junior from Nashville rebounded well with three straight birdies, closing out his round with 12 pars.
“The first couple of holes were tough because I had a surge of adrenaline,” Brown explained. “That caused me to hit the ball farther than anticipated. After a rough start, I managed to regain my composure, and I was thrilled with how I battled back.”
The American Express is the third event of the ongoing PGA Tour season and one of only two pro-am events remaining, rooted in its history as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler had initially planned to participate but withdrew ten days prior to the tournament to continue recovery from a right hand injury.
Last year’s champion, Nick Dunlap, marked his return to the tournament with a 67 at La Quinta. Dunlap, who made history as the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour, expressed his excitement about being back. “It’s comforting to know my first week as a professional feels somewhat familiar,” he shared earlier this week.
Now 21, Dunlap turned pro just a week after his historic victory and quickly transitioned from the supportive environment of the Alabama golf team to the challenging atmosphere of the PGA Tour. Despite facing difficulties along the way, he earned the tour’s rookie of the year title after winning the Barracuda Championship in Truckee, California.
“Honestly, it was a lot to process,” Dunlap reflected. “Things happened rapidly both on and off the course; some situations I was prepared for, while others caught me by surprise. Life moved at an accelerated pace, but I am living my dream, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, even if it hasn’t been completely easy.”