The American Express tournament in La Quinta is known for its low scoring on all three of its courses, with pros enjoying the smooth greens and wide fairways that promote low scores. In fact, in 2024, the winning player shot 29-under par for 72 holes. Not surprisingly, some of the easiest holes on the PGA Tour were found at The American Express, with six holes ranking among the 25 holes with the lowest scoring averages.
One of the easiest holes at The American Express is the par-5 11th hole at the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, measuring just 528 yards with a scoring average of 4.200. Similarly, the par-5 11th hole at La Quinta Country Club, straight at 543 yards, had a scoring average of 4.219. The par-5 sixth hole at La Quinta Country Club, measuring 527 yards, also had a low scoring average of 4.297 in 2024. Another par-5, the 13th hole at La Quinta Country Club, with a scoring average of 4.333, offered a bit more challenge with a dogleg to the right.
At the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, the par-5 seventh hole measuring under 530 yards had a scoring average of 4.374. On the front nine at La Quinta Country Club, the par-5 fifth hole with a scoring average of 4.381 was slightly higher than the sixth hole. The Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West also featured an easy hole, with the par-5 eighth hole ranking 26th on the list with a scoring average of 4.386. In comparison, the easiest hole on the PGA Tour in 2024 was the par-5 fifth hole at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, with a scoring average of 4.106.
While The American Express had some easy holes, there were also challenging ones like the 233-yard par-3 sixth hole at the Stadium Course at PGA West, with a scoring average of 3.251. Additionally, holes like the par-3 17th at the Nicklaus Tournament Course and the par-4 second at La Quinta Country Club played over par. Despite some tough holes, the low scoring at The American Express can be attributed to the presence of six par-5s among the lowest-scoring holes on the PGA Tour. Pros appreciate the opportunity to hone their games on these scoreable holes, contributing to the tournament’s reputation for low scores.
