The Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic was the original name of the American Express more than 60 years ago. The competition used to consist of five rounds (90 holes) rather than the customary four rounds (72 holes), and it was well-known for its celebrity pro-am.
A nonprofit group called Impact Through Golf took over as the tournament's host in 2020, replacing Desert Classic Charities. Similar to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the event abandoned its celebrity pro-am in 2012 and adopted a traditional 72-hole format that spreads across three different courses with a 54-hole cut.
Who won The American Express 2025?
Sepp Straka achieved his third career victory on the PGA Tour with the 2025 American Express. Out of the $8.8 million prize, he received the $1.58 million winner's share. Straka won by two strokes at 25 under 263 after finishing the three-course event at the PGA West Stadium Course with 2 under 70. Justin Thomas finished in solo second place, while Justin Lower and Jason Day finished tied for third place.
Who won The American Express 2024?
Nick Dunlap won the 2024 American Express, the first championship of his PGA Tour career, at the Dye Stadium Course at PGA West in Palm Springs, California. He became the second amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
If Dunlap had been a professional golfer, he would have received the $1,512,000 winner's share of the $8,400,000 purse, but as he was not, the winner's share moved to the runner-up, Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Dunlap made a 6-foot par putt on the final hole to finish the tournament with a 29-under-259 score, winning by one stroke. He triumphed over Christiaan Bezuidenhout with a final-round birdie. Two strokes behind the lead, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Kevin Yu tied for third place.
The American Express Winners List Year-by-Year
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Winner'sshare |
| 2025 | Sepp Straka | 263 | -25 | 2 | $1,584,000 |
| 2024 | Nick Dunlap | 259 | -29 | 1 | - |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm (2) | 261 | −27 | 1 | $1,440,000 |
| 2022 | Hudson Swafford | 265 | −23 | 2 | $1,368,000 |
| 2021 | Si Woo Kim | 265 | −23 | 1 | $1,206,000 |
| 2020 | Andrew Landry | 262 | −26 | 2 | $1,206,000 |
| 2019 | Adam Long | 262 | −26 | 1 | $1,062,000 |
| 2018 | Jon Rahm | 266 | −22 | PO | $1,062,000 |
| 2017 | Hudson Swafford | 268 | −20 | 1 | $1,044,000 |
| 2016 | Jason Dufner | 263 | −25 | PO | $1,044,000 |
| 2015 | Bill Haas (2) | 266 | −22 | 1 | $1,026,000 |
| 2014 | Patrick Reed | 260 | −28 | 2 | $1,026,000 |
| 2013 | Brian Gay | 263 | −25 | PO | $1,008,000 |
| 2012 | Mark Wilson | 264 | −24 | 2 | $1,008,000 |
| 2011 | Jhonattan Vegas | 333 | −27 | PO | $900,000 |
| 2010 | Bill Haas | 330 | −30 | 1 | $900,000 |
| 2009 | Pat Perez | 327 | −33 | 3 | $918,000 |
| 2008 | D. J. Trahan | 334 | −26 | 3 | $918,000 |
| 2007 | Charley Hoffman | 343 | −17 | PO | $900,000 |
| 2006 | Chad Campbell | 335 | −25 | 3 | $900,000 |
| 2005 | Justin Leonard | 332 | −28 | 3 | $846,000 |
| 2004 | Phil Mickelson (2) | 330 | −30 | PO | $810,000 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | 330 | −30 | 2 | $810,000 |
| 2002 | Phil Mickelson | 330 | −30 | PO | $720,000 |
| 2001 | Joe Durant | 324 | −36 | 4 | $630,000 |
| 2000 | Jesper Parnevik | 331 | −27 | 1 | $540,000 |
| 1999 | David Duval | 334 | −26 | 1 | $540,000 |
| 1998 | Fred Couples | 332 | −28 | PO | $414,000 |
| 1997 | John Cook (2) | 327 | −33 | 1 | $270,000 |
| 1996 | Mark Brooks | 337 | −23 | 1 | $234,000 |
| 1995 | Kenny Perry | 335 | −25 | 1 | $216,000 |
| 1994 | Scott Hoch | 334 | −26 | 3 | $198,000 |
| 1993 | Tom Kite | 325 | −35 | 6 | $198,000 |
| 1992 | John Cook | 336 | −24 | PO | $198,000 |
| 1991 | Corey Pavin (2) | 331 | −29 | PO | $198,000 |
| 1990 | Peter Jacobsen | 339 | −21 | 1 | $180,000 |
| 1989 | Steve Jones | 343 | −17 | PO | $180,000 |
| 1988 | Jay Haas | 338 | −22 | 2 | $180,000 |
| 1987 | Corey Pavin | 341 | −19 | 1 | $162,000 |
| 1986 | Donnie Hammond | 335 | −25 | PO | $108,000 |
| 1985 | Lanny Wadkins | 333 | −27 | PO | $90,000 |
| 1984 | John Mahaffey (2) | 340 | −20 | PO | $72,000 |
| 1983 | Keith Fergus | 335 | −25 | PO | $67,500 |
| 1982 | Ed Fiori | 335 | −25 | PO | $50,000 |
| 1981 | Bruce Lietzke | 335 | −25 | 2 | $50,000 |
| 1980 | Craig Stadler | 343 | −17 | 2 | $50,000 |
| 1979 | John Mahaffey | 343 | −17 | 1 | $50,000 |
| 1978 | Bill Rogers | 339 | −21 | 2 | $45,000 |
| 1977 | Rik Massengale | 337 | −23 | 6 | $40,000 |
| 1976 | Johnny Miller (2) | 344 | −16 | 3 | $36,000 |
| 1975 | Johnny Miller | 339 | −21 | 3 | $32,000 |
| 1974 | Hubert Green | 341 | −19 | 2 | $32,048 |
| 1973 | Arnold Palmer (5) | 343 | −17 | 2 | $32,000 |
| 1972 | Bob Rosburg | 344 | −16 | 1 | $29,000 |
| 1971 | Arnold Palmer (4) | 342 | −18 | PO | $28,000 |
| 1970 | Bruce Devlin | 339 | −21 | 4 | $25,000 |
| 1969 | Billy Casper (2) | 345 | −15 | 3 | $20,000 |
| 1968 | Arnold Palmer (3) | 348 | −12 | PO | $20,000 |
| 1967 | Tom Nieporte | 349 | −11 | 1 | $17,600 |
| 1966 | Doug Sanders | 349 | −11 | PO | $15,000 |
| 1965 | Billy Casper | 348 | −12 | 1 | $15,000 |
| 1964 | Tommy Jacobs | 353 | −7 | PO | $7,500 |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus | 345 | −13 | PO | $9,000 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer (2) | 342 | −17 | 3 | $5,300 |
| 1961 | Billy Maxwell | 345 | −14 | 2 | $5,300 |
| 1960 | Arnold Palmer | 338 | −20 | 3 | $12,000 |
Multiple PGA American Express Champions
Arnold Palmer has been the winner of the PGA American Express five times and leads the closest opponent in wins overall by three victories. Phil Mickelson, the 2019 event host, is one of seven players who have won the tournament twice.
| No. of Wins | Name | Country | Years |
| 5 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1973 |
| 2 | Billy Casper | United States | 1956, 1969 |
| 2 | John Cook | United States | 1992, 1997 |
| 2 | Bill Haas | United States | 2010, 2015 |
| 2 | John Mahaffey | United States | 1979, 1984 |
| 2 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 2002, 2004 |
| 2 | Johnny Miller | United States | 1975, 1976 |
| 2 | Corey Pavin | United States | 1987, 1991 |
| 2 | Hudson Swafford | United States | 2017, 2022 |
| 2 | John Rahm | Spain | 2018, 2023 |
FAQs on The American Express
A. Arnold Palmer won the American Express five times. Phil Mickelson is one of the other eight two-time champions.
A. The Palm Springs Golf Classic, now called The American Express, first took place in 1960.
A. Sepp Straka won the 2025 American Express over Justin Thomas by a margin of two strokes. Straka earned $1.58 million of the $8.8 million purse.
A. The American Express was named for and hosted by entertainer Bob Hope for many years.
