Min Woo Lee, Pierceson Coody lead The American Express

Field Level Media|published: Thu 22nd January, 20:01 2026

Jan 22, 2026; La Quinta, California, USA; Min Woo Lee hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round of The American Express golf tournament at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Min Woo Lee of Australia and Pierceson Coody share the first-round lead and Scottie Scheffler is one off the pace at The American Express after Thursday's action in La Quinta, Calif.

Lee and Coody each shot 10-under-par 62 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course to open the tournament. Coody ran off seven birdies in a row on the back nine.

The players in this week's field will play the first three rounds at three separate courses, one round apiece at the Pete Dye Stadium Course, the Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club. The cut will come Saturday after 54 holes, with the top 65 and ties advancing to Sunday's round at the Pete Dye Stadium Course.

Scheffler started his first round of the 2026 season by making six birdies through eight holes at La Quinta Country Club. His birdie pace slowed down, but he finished off a bogey-free round and was tied for first in the field in greens in regulation (17 of 18).

He's part of a large tie at 9-under 63 that also includes Australia's Jason Day at the Stadium Course; Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Vince Whaley, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and South Korea's Si Woo Kim at the Nicklaus Tournament Course; and S.H. Kim of South Korea and Matt McCarty at La Quinta Country Club.

Will Zalatoris, making his first start since the 2025 PGA Championship after having disk replacement surgery on his back, shot a 7-under 65 at La Quinta C.C.

Defending champion Sepp Straka of Austria settled for an even-par 72 at La Quinta.

--Field Level Media

Latest